motife
05-08-2006, 06:05 PM
Monday, May 08, 2006
Posted 2:52 PM
Minicamp #1 wrap up
The Packers practiced four times in their three-day minicamp (Friday through Sunday). Here's a look at the best and worst of the weekend:
Five who looked good
1. Greg Jennings. It's easier for receivers to stand out, especially in non-contact drills, but the rookie second-round draft pick from Western Michigan looked like a natural. He got out of his breaks quickly and seemed to understand the precision necessary to run good routes. He plays quicker than expected and exhibited better-than-average body control.
2. Will Blackmon. The fourth-round cornerback from Boston College showed better instincts in pass coverage in one weekend than Ahmad Carroll has shown in two years. Blackmon broke up several deep balls and was able to consistently cover without using his hands.
3. Donald Driver. At 31 years old, the receiver still might be the best athlete on this team.
4. Aaron Rodgers. There's still no way to know if Rodgers will be a star quarterback in this league -- or even a serviceable starter -- but he showed a much-improved command of an NFL offense. He played with a noticeable confidence, looked good rolling out, showed good arm strength and touch on the deep ball.
5. Mark Tauscher. If the new zone-blocking scheme is going to work, the offensive line is going to need some leadership. Tauscher not only came in looking like he was in good shape, but he was a vocal leader in many of the line drills.
Five who looked bad
1. Donnell Washington. The third-year defensive tackle, who has never gotten on the field for a regular-season game since the Packers drafted him in the third round in 2004, couldn't even get on the field for minicamp. He inexplicably blew off the offseason workout program that began on March 20 and was in such bad shape the team decided to sit him out. His NFL career is on life support.
2. Kevin Barry. Much like Washington, Barry had an opportunity to increase his role but showed up about 25 pounds overweight. That's especially bad because the new coaching staff wants the offensive linemen lean and with less than 20 percent body fat. Barry isn't close to that.
3. Robert Ferguson. For years, the receiver has been telling anyone who will listen that he's capable of being a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver. He'll get that chance now that Javon Walker is gone, but he'll have to do more than he did during this minicamp. Not that he was bad, but he never made any eye-catching plays.
4. B.J. Sander. The third-year punter had his share of kicks with decent distance and hang time, but that was inside the climate-controlled Don Hutson Center. It appears, though, that he never will have the leg strength to be a big-time kicker in cold weather, which is what you have to do to be successful in Green Bay.
5. Dave Rayner. The free-agent kicker probably doesn't have much of a shot to compete for the job. Though the only placekicking done during this camp was off to the side and not part of any official drills, Rayner (who was Indianapolis' kickoff specialist for 14 games last year) was wildly inconsistent.
Posted 2:52 PM
Minicamp #1 wrap up
The Packers practiced four times in their three-day minicamp (Friday through Sunday). Here's a look at the best and worst of the weekend:
Five who looked good
1. Greg Jennings. It's easier for receivers to stand out, especially in non-contact drills, but the rookie second-round draft pick from Western Michigan looked like a natural. He got out of his breaks quickly and seemed to understand the precision necessary to run good routes. He plays quicker than expected and exhibited better-than-average body control.
2. Will Blackmon. The fourth-round cornerback from Boston College showed better instincts in pass coverage in one weekend than Ahmad Carroll has shown in two years. Blackmon broke up several deep balls and was able to consistently cover without using his hands.
3. Donald Driver. At 31 years old, the receiver still might be the best athlete on this team.
4. Aaron Rodgers. There's still no way to know if Rodgers will be a star quarterback in this league -- or even a serviceable starter -- but he showed a much-improved command of an NFL offense. He played with a noticeable confidence, looked good rolling out, showed good arm strength and touch on the deep ball.
5. Mark Tauscher. If the new zone-blocking scheme is going to work, the offensive line is going to need some leadership. Tauscher not only came in looking like he was in good shape, but he was a vocal leader in many of the line drills.
Five who looked bad
1. Donnell Washington. The third-year defensive tackle, who has never gotten on the field for a regular-season game since the Packers drafted him in the third round in 2004, couldn't even get on the field for minicamp. He inexplicably blew off the offseason workout program that began on March 20 and was in such bad shape the team decided to sit him out. His NFL career is on life support.
2. Kevin Barry. Much like Washington, Barry had an opportunity to increase his role but showed up about 25 pounds overweight. That's especially bad because the new coaching staff wants the offensive linemen lean and with less than 20 percent body fat. Barry isn't close to that.
3. Robert Ferguson. For years, the receiver has been telling anyone who will listen that he's capable of being a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver. He'll get that chance now that Javon Walker is gone, but he'll have to do more than he did during this minicamp. Not that he was bad, but he never made any eye-catching plays.
4. B.J. Sander. The third-year punter had his share of kicks with decent distance and hang time, but that was inside the climate-controlled Don Hutson Center. It appears, though, that he never will have the leg strength to be a big-time kicker in cold weather, which is what you have to do to be successful in Green Bay.
5. Dave Rayner. The free-agent kicker probably doesn't have much of a shot to compete for the job. Though the only placekicking done during this camp was off to the side and not part of any official drills, Rayner (who was Indianapolis' kickoff specialist for 14 games last year) was wildly inconsistent.