Partial
08-16-2007, 08:07 PM
Notebook: Winds of change don't deter Collins
By Tom Pelissero
tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
If the prospect of playing alongside a third strong safety in three seasons worries free safety Nick Collins, he isn't letting on.
"It don't faze me," Collins said Tuesday, a day after Atari Bigby replaced incumbent Marquand Manuel for the first time in practice. "Atari now being here for three years, so everybody, whoever's the other d-back, I'm comfortable with."
Manuel, who replaced Mark Roman last season, took all the work alongside Collins in practice Tuesday morning. But during game-planning periods in the night session, Bigby replaced Manuel for about a half-dozen plays and played alongside Collins and Manuel in the "Niner" (3-2 dime) package. Rookie Aaron Rouse also played a snap alongside Collins in an 11-on-11 period.
Though coach Mike McCarthy said Monday he's comfortable with limiting Collins' snaps throughout the preseason — he played only one series in last week's win at Pittsburgh — Collins might see more action in Saturday's exhibition against Seattle as the team experiments with different combinations.
"When they're in competition, you want to get them exposure with the guy who, if he wins the job, who he may be playing with," secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer said. "We're going into game two, and we just have to keep getting a lot more information about the guys."
Miree getting pushed?
Fullback Brandon Miree might be wise to test his injured shoulder sooner than later.
Asked Tuesday whether Miree's absence in the preseason opener limited the running game, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin noted the Packers "don't really have an established starting fullback."
Miree hasn't participated in contact portions of practice since early last week. He also missed time early in camp with a sore Achilles' tendon and battled injuries throughout last season, his first in Green Bay.
The Packers pursued an upgrade in free agency after they released veteran William Henderson, but Terrelle Smith and Justin Griffith signed elsewhere. The only other fullbacks on the roster — Korey Hall, who started Saturday, Ryan Powdrell and Corey White — are rookies, and none of them played much fullback in college.
Still, there's no guarantee Miree's roster spot is safe, especially if alternatives arise after cuts begin Aug. 28. The Packers signed Miree to the practice squad after the Denver Broncos cut him last September, then waived Vonta Leach eight days later.
If Miree doesn't practice Thursday night, he almost certainly will sit out a second consecutive exhibition game Saturday.
Call a chiropractor
Cornerback Al Harris, middle linebacker Nick Barnett and tight end Donald Lee experienced tightness in his back Tuesday morning. Barnett sat out the entire morning session, and Lee left the night practice early and did not return.
Only Harris, who sat out the Family Night scrimmage and the preseason opener because of the same problem, previously missed time in camp because of injury.
"We're just trying to find the happy medium between getting (Harris) ready to the play the game (and practicing), because we're into game prep, schedule-mode," McCarthy said.
In the locker room after the morning practice, Barnett said he wasn't concerned about his injury.
"It's been tight for a week now, so (team trainers) decided to give it a rest for a little," Barnett said. "I don't think it's that big of a deal."
Odds and ends
McCarthy half-jokingly blamed the back trouble on the team's surprise bowling trip Monday night to Pro Bowl in Suamico. CB Jarrett Bush bowled a 212 on Monday night to lead all players. … Playing time for starters, including QB Brett Favre, in Saturday's game probably won't be decided until Thursday. However, McCarthy said he plans to play rookie QB Paul Thompson in the fourth quarter. … McCarthy said the off day should provide needed rest for QB Brett Favre's sore hamstrings. … Shaun Bodiford and David Clowney will reprise their roles as starting kick returners Saturday, special teams coordinator Mike Stock said. Will Blackmon will replace Bodiford as the No. 1 punt returner, with Bodiford getting the second rep. Blackmon and rookie Ryan Powdrell will get the second look on kick returns. … While Stock was pleased with Jon Ryan's performance at Pittsburgh, he said the second-year punter's footwork wasn't right on his initial punt — a 35-yard shank to the left with 3.3 seconds of hang time. It was Ryan's first game since switching to a two-step approach. He rebounded to finish with a 46.8-yard average, with a long of 56. … OL Junius Coston filled Chad Clifton's spot at left tackle in the morning practice. But for the second straight day, Coston was sent off after a false start. He also looked helpless against one Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila speed rush.
By Tom Pelissero
tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
If the prospect of playing alongside a third strong safety in three seasons worries free safety Nick Collins, he isn't letting on.
"It don't faze me," Collins said Tuesday, a day after Atari Bigby replaced incumbent Marquand Manuel for the first time in practice. "Atari now being here for three years, so everybody, whoever's the other d-back, I'm comfortable with."
Manuel, who replaced Mark Roman last season, took all the work alongside Collins in practice Tuesday morning. But during game-planning periods in the night session, Bigby replaced Manuel for about a half-dozen plays and played alongside Collins and Manuel in the "Niner" (3-2 dime) package. Rookie Aaron Rouse also played a snap alongside Collins in an 11-on-11 period.
Though coach Mike McCarthy said Monday he's comfortable with limiting Collins' snaps throughout the preseason — he played only one series in last week's win at Pittsburgh — Collins might see more action in Saturday's exhibition against Seattle as the team experiments with different combinations.
"When they're in competition, you want to get them exposure with the guy who, if he wins the job, who he may be playing with," secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer said. "We're going into game two, and we just have to keep getting a lot more information about the guys."
Miree getting pushed?
Fullback Brandon Miree might be wise to test his injured shoulder sooner than later.
Asked Tuesday whether Miree's absence in the preseason opener limited the running game, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin noted the Packers "don't really have an established starting fullback."
Miree hasn't participated in contact portions of practice since early last week. He also missed time early in camp with a sore Achilles' tendon and battled injuries throughout last season, his first in Green Bay.
The Packers pursued an upgrade in free agency after they released veteran William Henderson, but Terrelle Smith and Justin Griffith signed elsewhere. The only other fullbacks on the roster — Korey Hall, who started Saturday, Ryan Powdrell and Corey White — are rookies, and none of them played much fullback in college.
Still, there's no guarantee Miree's roster spot is safe, especially if alternatives arise after cuts begin Aug. 28. The Packers signed Miree to the practice squad after the Denver Broncos cut him last September, then waived Vonta Leach eight days later.
If Miree doesn't practice Thursday night, he almost certainly will sit out a second consecutive exhibition game Saturday.
Call a chiropractor
Cornerback Al Harris, middle linebacker Nick Barnett and tight end Donald Lee experienced tightness in his back Tuesday morning. Barnett sat out the entire morning session, and Lee left the night practice early and did not return.
Only Harris, who sat out the Family Night scrimmage and the preseason opener because of the same problem, previously missed time in camp because of injury.
"We're just trying to find the happy medium between getting (Harris) ready to the play the game (and practicing), because we're into game prep, schedule-mode," McCarthy said.
In the locker room after the morning practice, Barnett said he wasn't concerned about his injury.
"It's been tight for a week now, so (team trainers) decided to give it a rest for a little," Barnett said. "I don't think it's that big of a deal."
Odds and ends
McCarthy half-jokingly blamed the back trouble on the team's surprise bowling trip Monday night to Pro Bowl in Suamico. CB Jarrett Bush bowled a 212 on Monday night to lead all players. … Playing time for starters, including QB Brett Favre, in Saturday's game probably won't be decided until Thursday. However, McCarthy said he plans to play rookie QB Paul Thompson in the fourth quarter. … McCarthy said the off day should provide needed rest for QB Brett Favre's sore hamstrings. … Shaun Bodiford and David Clowney will reprise their roles as starting kick returners Saturday, special teams coordinator Mike Stock said. Will Blackmon will replace Bodiford as the No. 1 punt returner, with Bodiford getting the second rep. Blackmon and rookie Ryan Powdrell will get the second look on kick returns. … While Stock was pleased with Jon Ryan's performance at Pittsburgh, he said the second-year punter's footwork wasn't right on his initial punt — a 35-yard shank to the left with 3.3 seconds of hang time. It was Ryan's first game since switching to a two-step approach. He rebounded to finish with a 46.8-yard average, with a long of 56. … OL Junius Coston filled Chad Clifton's spot at left tackle in the morning practice. But for the second straight day, Coston was sent off after a false start. He also looked helpless against one Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila speed rush.