A Few Early Training Camp Thoughts

[Partial]

We'll see, but it makes little sense. If the coaches trusted Wells so much, don't you think they'd have Spitz compete with Sitton instead? Or are you speculating that the coaches aren't enamored with Spitz as an OG? I don't think that is the case either. My guess is Spitz starts no matter what. If Sitton does well at RG, Spitz starts at OC. If Sitton falls on his face, they move Spitz back to RG and Wells starts at OC.

This is how I see it play out as well.

[The Shadow]

Preston is struggling.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090811/PKR01/90811134/1058

[pbmax]

Chillar got an official endorsement from McCarthy yesterday as one of the best players early in camp. I wonder how much this will slow down, if at all, Barnett's return to start?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Good to see Kamp get the Thumbs Up today.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/53003512.html

THUMBS UP

The dog days of training camp arrived Tuesday night. The legs of RB Brandon Jackson suggested that. Back from injury after a 10-day hiatus, Jackson was playing the game at 78 rpm's while everyone else was at 45 rpm's. OLB AaronKampman had reason to be as tired as anyone on the field. For a week now, he has been forced to take a gargantuan share of the repetitions because three of his five teammates at the position have been out with injuries. "We've got to make sure we don't overwork him," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said at mid-day. So in the last period of the night, with the crowd thinning and enthusiasm among players beginning to ebb, Kampman came to the fore like the true professional that he is. Twice in a 19-play red-zone drill, he eluded RT Allen Barbre and would have sacked Aaron Rodgers if he wasn't in a red jersey. Slowly but surely, Kampman's heart and effort are helping him overcome the dramatic change in positions at age 29. "He's doing everything we're asking him to do, and doing it pretty well," said Capers. "He's made really good progress in terms of the transition."

[SnakeLH2006]

Keep Wells as a backup........or as a below average starter than gets overpowered too much

I'd prfer Spitz

Fuck it. Was gonna say the same...Spot on Bret.

[rbaloha1]

Wells is starting with Spitz as the rg. If this is the best 5 so be it. Maybe the surgery is helping Wells.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Wells is starting with Spitz as the rg. If this is the best 5 so be it. Maybe the surgery is helping Wells.

They've pretty much been rotating. Wells is the incumbent, so I'm sure he'll get the benefit of the doubt. Don't count the battle over until the season has started. It sounds like Wells is over his injury though, so Sitton will really need to impress to gain a starting spot.

[bobblehead]

Good to see Kamp get the Thumbs Up today.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/53003512.html

THUMBS UP

The dog days of training camp arrived Tuesday night. The legs of RB Brandon Jackson suggested that. Back from injury after a 10-day hiatus, Jackson was playing the game at 78 rpm's while everyone else was at 45 rpm's. OLB AaronKampman had reason to be as tired as anyone on the field. For a week now, he has been forced to take a gargantuan share of the repetitions because three of his five teammates at the position have been out with injuries. "We've got to make sure we don't overwork him," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said at mid-day. So in the last period of the night, with the crowd thinning and enthusiasm among players beginning to ebb, Kampman came to the fore like the true professional that he is. Twice in a 19-play red-zone drill, he eluded RT Allen Barbre and would have sacked Aaron Rodgers if he wasn't in a red jersey. Slowly but surely, Kampman's heart and effort are helping him overcome the dramatic change in positions at age 29. "He's doing everything we're asking him to do, and doing it pretty well," said Capers. "He's made really good progress in terms of the transition."

Here is my problem with the "light" camp to keep players fresh. In the 4th quarter of games Kampman comes alive. If you don't work PAST that dog feeling you don't get more stamina.

Just like I always say if you don't PRACTICE in the cold you don't perform in the cold.....If you don't PRACTICE when you are fatigued you don't perform when you are fatigued.

Was it Lombardi who said "fatigue makes cowards of us all"?

Muhammad Ali used to say that he put in that extra roadwork when he was dog tired so that when he and his opponent both hit that stage he would know how to handle it. Sounds like Kampman is hitting that stage as well...time to work the other guys as much as Kamp.

[bobblehead]

Wells is starting with Spitz as the rg. If this is the best 5 so be it. Maybe the surgery is helping Wells.

They've pretty much been rotating. Wells is the incumbent, so I'm sure he'll get the benefit of the doubt. Don't count the battle over until the season has started. It sounds like Wells is over his injury though, so Sitton will really need to impress to gain a starting spot.

This is unlikely at this point, but I suggested it before camp. Can anyone see a scenario where we can't settle on a solid RT and our line ends up:

Clifton, Spitz, Wells, Sitton, College...or am I the only one??

[HarveyWallbangers]

Reading various training camp reports, here's the good and bad of what I've heard.

Good

1) Outside of Nick Barnett, the guys who were injured last year are mostly healthy. It sounds like Ryan Grant, Chad Clifton, Scott Wells, James Jones, A.J. Hawk, and Cullen Jenkins are healthy.
2) Jason Spitz is having a good camp.
3) Ryan Pickett seems to be adjusting well to NT in the 3-4.
4) Charles Woodson and Jenkins looks like beasts.
5) Deshawn Wynn looks improved.
6) Some of the no name receivers have impressed (Jake Allen, Kole Heckendorf, the kid out of South Dakota). Ruvell Martin better have a good camp.
7) Nick Collins is picking up the defense well.

Bad

1) Allen Barbre seems to be struggling.
2) Atari Bigby isn't where he was at in 2007.
3) The punters have struggled.
4) Rash of injuries to the LBs.
5) Because of injuries, holdouts, and ineffective play, the 2009 rookie class is struggling--not really surprising to me.
6) Just when Pat Lee was starting to impress, he got injured.
7) We have little depth at DE.

Others

1) Flynn and Brohm are better than last year, but still not QBs to count on in real games.
2) Crosby had a rough start to camp, but rebounded with a stellar performance yesterday.

[rbaloha1]

You failed to mention in the positives: Chillar and Bishop. Nonetheless still a good summary.

[vince]

Reading various training camp reports, here's the good and bad of what I've heard.

Good

1) Outside of Nick Barnett, the guys who were injured last year are mostly healthy. It sounds like Ryan Grant, Chad Clifton, Scott Wells, James Jones, A.J. Hawk, and Cullen Jenkins are healthy.
2) Jason Spitz is having a good camp.
3) Ryan Pickett seems to be adjusting well to NT in the 3-4.
4) Charles Woodson and Jenkins looks like beasts.
5) Deshawn Wynn looks improved.
6) Some of the no name receivers have impressed (Jake Allen, Kole Heckendorf, the kid out of South Dakota). Ruvell Martin better have a good camp.
7) Nick Collins is picking up the defense well.

Bad

1) Allen Barbre seems to be struggling.
2) Atari Bigby isn't where he was at in 2007.
3) The punters have struggled.
4) Rash of injuries to the LBs.
5) Because of injuries, holdouts, and ineffective play, the 2009 rookie class is struggling--not really surprising to me.
6) Just when Pat Lee was starting to impress, he got injured.
7) We have little depth at DE.

Others

1) Flynn and Brohm are better than last year, but still not QBs to count on in real games.
2) Crosby had a rough start to camp, but rebounded with a stellar performance yesterday.

I've been disengaged from training camp for awhile, so I haven't heard about Barbre's struggles. Can you elaborate on that Harv or anyone else? Is Giaco overtaking him at RT?

[HarveyWallbangers]

You failed to mention in the positives: Chillar and Bishop. Nonetheless still a good summary.

I forgot Chillar.

I'll believe it when I see it regarding Bishop. He looked solid in training camp last year, but his athletic limitations were apparent in the games. He'd make a good tackle or hit on one play and the next play an RB would run by him--because he either took a bad angle or wasn't athletic enough to contain the guy. Or he'd get toasted in coverage.

Lots of good stuff about Kampman too. Sounds like he's been a beast on run defense and pass rush and seems to be improving in coverage. I think his LB coach or the DC said he was about perfect in his coverage responsibility. The coaches seem very happy with him.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I've been disengaged from training camp for awhile, so I haven't heard about Barbre's struggles. Can you elaborate on that Harv or anyone else? Is Giaco overtaking him at RT?

Just about every practice they talked about how somebody (usually Kampman) got by him. The last couple of days, he and Breno have been rotating with the 1s.

[pbmax]

Good to see Kamp get the Thumbs Up today.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/53003512.html

THUMBS UP

The dog days of training camp arrived Tuesday night. The legs of RB Brandon Jackson suggested that. Back from injury after a 10-day hiatus, Jackson was playing the game at 78 rpm's while everyone else was at 45 rpm's. OLB AaronKampman had reason to be as tired as anyone on the field. For a week now, he has been forced to take a gargantuan share of the repetitions because three of his five teammates at the position have been out with injuries. "We've got to make sure we don't overwork him," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said at mid-day. So in the last period of the night, with the crowd thinning and enthusiasm among players beginning to ebb, Kampman came to the fore like the true professional that he is. Twice in a 19-play red-zone drill, he eluded RT Allen Barbre and would have sacked Aaron Rodgers if he wasn't in a red jersey. Slowly but surely, Kampman's heart and effort are helping him overcome the dramatic change in positions at age 29. "He's doing everything we're asking him to do, and doing it pretty well," said Capers. "He's made really good progress in terms of the transition."

Here is my problem with the "light" camp to keep players fresh. In the 4th quarter of games Kampman comes alive. If you don't work PAST that dog feeling you don't get more stamina.

Just like I always say if you don't PRACTICE in the cold you don't perform in the cold.....If you don't PRACTICE when you are fatigued you don't perform when you are fatigued.

Was it Lombardi who said "fatigue makes cowards of us all"?

Muhammad Ali used to say that he put in that extra roadwork when he was dog tired so that when he and his opponent both hit that stage he would know how to handle it. Sounds like Kampman is hitting that stage as well...time to work the other guys as much as Kamp.

Holmgren rarely practiced in the cold and his camps, like the 49ers, were lighter than many other teams of the era. Given his December record, there is more to playing in the cold than just practicing in it.

He and Walsh believed it was more important to practice effectively than to simulate the weather conditions of Game Day.