Training Camp Talk

[Patler]

The Rodgers pick has always seemed to irk Favre, but to wait to find a replacement until after Favre retired would have been foolish.

I think it irked Favre more at the time than it does now.

McNabb was irked when the Eagles took Kolb. Jones was irked when the Packers took Nelson. That is simply the way it goes...players aren't happy when other guys are brought in as "competition", but business is business and the players understand that as well, even if they still don't like it.

I don't disagree, but the big difference is that Favre had been "threatening" to retire for a couple years. He should have expected that a replacement QB would be a priority for GB. Neither McNabb nor Jones have indicated they were thinking of retiring anytime soon.

[boiga]

More training camp stuff!

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blogs/insider/index.shtml

-Crosby misses two field goals, his first of TC.

-Brohm had the deep ball accuracy, getting it in the net. Rodgers and Flynn both grazed the side.

-Brohm had a lousy team passing period, getting 1 picked off and two more that should have been.

-James Jones got the ball stripped by Nick Collins, Hawk recovered. JJ really has to work on ball security, especially when we play chicago again.

[BallHawk]

Safety Nick Collins stripped James Jones of the ball after a catch with A.J. Hawk recovering the fumble.

Wow, Collins made a play!

Now if he could only cover worth a damn we could start him.

[GBRulz]

Is your best friend Favre's pilot?

HAHA - that idiot banned me from Favre's website!!

[HarveyWallbangers]

Hopefully, this isn't being said just to help his confidence. The article intimates the backups have struggled--with Brohm maybe struggling more than Flynn.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=778680

Mild-mannered offensive coordinator Joe Philbin bristled just a little Wednesday when he was asked if quarterback Aaron Rodgers had been playing adequately after the first four practices at the Green Bay Packers' training camp.

"Hell, yeah," Philbin said. "He's protecting the ball. He's throwing the ball well. He's handling the offense. He's checking plays. Absolutely."

One of his teammates, fullback John Kuhn, said Rodgers had made few mental mistakes, at least as far as the players can see.

"He's been on his game," Kuhn said. "You could tell from Day One in March. He was coming in and he was ready for his time."

Kuhn sees the offense evolving to fit Rodgers' strength. He is dashing about the pocket, seems to be a fairly accurate deep-ball thrower on the move and is looking to run when the protection caves.

"He's very quick and good on the run," Kuhn said. "We're giving him the ability with run-pass option. Get outside. Get deep. It's pretty much just him getting out there and just seeing the field. 'A-Rod's' a terrific athlete and he's got such a strong arm."

For his part, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements said Rodgers was having an "outstanding" camp.

[boiga]

So it's Flynn following in Favre's footsteps and not Brohm?

* Backup quarterback Matt Flynn completed a pass to himself. His attempt to throw was batted at the line of scrimmage by Daniel Muir and fell back into Flynn’s hands during a team drill.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blogs/insider/index.shtml

Also:

9:52 a.m.
Aaron Rodgers won the deep ball accuracy drill this morning. All three quarterbacks attempted several passes from between 45 and 50 yards, aiming at a net. Rodgers was the only one to successfully hit the bull’s-eye.

Go Rodgers!

Edit:

10:21 a.m.
During a two-minute drill, Aaron Rodgers put the ball right on the money on what should have been a 32-yard touchdown pass with 6 seconds remaining. However, receiver James Jones, who momentarily had the ball in his grasp, was stripped by safety Atari Bigby and the ball fell incomplete.

D'oh. I'm starting to get seriously worried about jones hands. This is the second time in TC that he's gotten stripped of the ball. On the other hand, Bigby's coverage skills seem to have increased.

[boiga]

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blogs/insider/index.shtml

McCarthy not too concerned about injuries; has no Favre news
After today’s practice, coach Mike McCarthy said this of team injuries:

Cornerback Will Blackmon is dealing with soreness in his chronically injured foot. DeShawn Wynn has a slight concussion and Korey Hall has a knee strain.

McCarthy did not express much concern about any of the injuries.

The Blackmon status is at least somewhat alarming because the foot has troubled him throughout his young NFL career. McCarthy said the report from athletic trainer Pepper Burruss was positive and that Blackmon feels good.

Korey Hall is day to day, while Wynn is being evaluated after sustaining the injury Wednesday night.

UPDATE: Blackmon said he just got the morning off because of the pounding of the first three days and he expects to practice tonight.

Hall said his injury is mild and is hopeful his knee will loosen up so he can practice on Saturday.

Wynn said he’s been experiencing increasing dizziness throughout camp and finally brought it to the attention of trainers. He’s taking the concussion test twice a day and will continue to do so until he’s cleared to return.

* McCarthy said he was pleased with the mechanics of two-minute drills the offense ran at the end of today’s practice even though production was only OK. Neither the first- nor second-team offense got in the end zone.

* McCarthy said Thursday’s off-day guest speaker, former Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer was “very insightful” and provided encouragement with how the team is handling the Brett Favre situation.

UPDATE: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers aid he pulled aside Fleischer after his speech and asked him a couple questions. Rogers declined to say what those questions were.

* McCarthy offered no update on Favre and said he hasn’t spoken to the retired quarterback. He confirmed reports that the $20 million personal services contract the Packers are discussing with Favre first was discussed when he retired in March. He said he last spoke with Favre on July 19 at Hall of Fame banquet.

* Linebacker Brady Poppinga spent time working at left end during today’s practice. McCarthy said that’s a reflection of defensive coordinator Bob Sanders expansion of his scheme, but that the implementation of Poppinga as a hand-down rusher – or any other unique sub-packages -- is something that would be based on matchups.

I really hope there is nothing serious about any of those injuries. Also, Poppinga at left end??? How the heck is that going to work? I have trouble imagining a situation where Brady would perform better there than Kampman

[boiga]

Sorry for the triple post all... okay no I'm not...

Evening practice: Rodgers sharp in 2-minute drill
7:57 p.m.

The Packers' No. 1 offense looked impressive in a 7-on-7 two-minute drill.

Aaron Rodgers directed a 7-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, which culminated with a 20-yard scoring strike to Ruvell Martin with under 10 seconds remaining on the clock. Rodgers completed 5 of 7 passes on the drive, including one spike to stop the clock.

The Packers' reserve offense wasn't as successful on their turn. That drive ended when Aaron Rouse intercepted a Matt Flynn pass in the end zone intended for Jordy Nelson.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...er/index.shtml

Go Rodgers!!! I knew he had it in him. Also, Ruvell's being a stud. Considering that Jones has had the ball stripped from him twice during TC, I'm starting to imagine that he could push for the 3rd WR spot. Of course, it's not exactly a fair competition considering that Ruvell is A-rod's best friend on the team and Rodgers is openly pulling for him.

Rouse is still a ball hawk. Our safeties have been making some serious plays so far in TC.

[Joemailman]

I really hope there is nothing serious about any of those injuries. Also, Poppinga at left end??? How the heck is that going to work? I have trouble imagining a situation where Brady would perform better there than Kampman

Kampman would be better if he could take a few more plays off. Popp played DE at BYU, and does have some pass rushing skills.

[Fritz]

You sure that stuff on Wynn isn't from last year? Vague, hard to pin injuries - sore calf or hamstring, dizziness.

By DeShawn. Maybe you can find a job working for Travis Jervey.

[HarveyWallbangers]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth

A few Packers practice observations
Kevin Seifert, ESPN.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- While ostensibly serving duty on Favre Watch this week, we've also taken in all six Packers practices to date. (What? Could an actual football post be forthcoming)? You'll find that we're not big believers in drawing conclusions from practice observations, but nonetheless, a few things have caught our eye.

Among them:

* By our count, the Packers had a half-dozen false start or offside penalties during team drills on the first day of practice. Since then, we've heard at least one Packers player or coach mention the term "pre-snap penalties" every day. All teams emphasize the elimination of those mistakes, but it is a particular point of emphasis for the Packers' offense as it transitions to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It might sound simple, but lineman, receivers and backs are getting used to a new way of calling plays as well as a new cadence. That's what training camp is for.

* Rodgers is still establishing timing with his receivers and has thrown his share of off-target passes. But one thing is clear: Three years as an apprentice has left him with an exceptional understanding of the offense. Over six practices, it would be hard to pick out more than three or four plays where Rodgers seemed unsure where to throw the ball. For a young quarterback, knowing where the open receiver will be is more than half the battle.

* Rodgers throws the ball with an easy touch. Friday morning, he lofted a perfect goal-line fade pass to receiver Ruvell Martin. Martin made a leaping grab in the corner of the end zone.

* Coach Mike McCarthy and others have offered layers of praise for second-year running back Brandon Jackson, who is working with the first team while Ryan Grant holds out. Some of that is probably designed to push Grant into camp, but at least part of it is genuine. Jackson added eight pounds of muscle in the offseason and still has a good burst at the line of scrimmage. He might eventually be a perfect third-down back, but for now the Packers could do a lot worse with him as the starter.

* Admittedly, we've watched much more offense than defense. But we haven't seen a ton of evidence to support the commonly-held view that the Packers would blitz more this season. Of course, they probably wouldn't show too much of that during an open practice. We did notice linebacker Brady Poppinga working a bit Friday as a pass-rushing defensive end, as promised.

* People always like to know about sleepers, so one player that has caught our eye is third-year tight end Tory Humphrey, who spent last season on injured reserve. Humphrey has pretty soft hands and seems to know how to get open. The Packers' starter figures to be Donald Lee, and the team also used a third-round draft pick this spring on Jermichael Finley, but Humphrey would seem to be a strong candidate for a roster spot.

[Lurker64]

By DeShawn. Maybe you can find a job working for Travis Jervey.

Jervey was much, much better on special teams.

[Fritz]

That's why he will only be able to be Jervey's employee.

[BallHawk]

Also, Ruvell's being a stud. Considering that Jones has had the ball stripped from him twice during TC, I'm starting to imagine that he could push for the 3rd WR spot. Of course, it's not exactly a fair competition considering that Ruvell is A-rod's best friend on the team and Rodgers is openly pulling for him.

I said this earlier (Ruvell being a #3) and was considered crazy, but I'm starting to believe it. Yes, Ruvell does have an advantage because he's great friends with A-Rod, but that makes it better.

Ruvell is going to turn heads this season. I know it's only TC, but for the people that doubted if he would even make the team......put some of that crow pie in the oven.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Jordy Nelson is getting positive press, as well.