Highlights from Tuesday night's practice

[woodbuck27]

Highlights from Tuesday night's practice
Highlights from the 11-on-11 team drills included:

* Kenny Peterson knocked down a Brett Favre pass over the middle that was intended for tight end Donald Lee.

* Quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit Samkon Gado on a short pass over the middle against the No. 2 defense, and Gado took it in stride into the end zone.

* Cornerback Ahmad Carroll displayed good coverage in breaking up a deep pass from Rodgers to Donald Driver.

Some highlights from the seven-on-seven drills included:

* Favre connected on a deep pass to Rod Gardner.

* Rodgers completed a nice pass to Ruvell Martin, who eluded cornerback Tyrone Culver and took it into the end zone.

The skies were overcast for the Tuesday night practice, and there were skattered sprinkles and gusts of wind. At 8:25 p.m., the rain started to pick up, although players remained on the field. The rain stopped a short time later.

— Mike Vandermause, sports editor, Green Bay Press-Gazette


Punters Sander, Ryan square off

Punters B.J. Sander and Jon Ryan participated in a drill in which they attempted to place the ball inside the 10-yard line. Kicking from the opponents’ 45-yard line, Ryan landed four of 10 punts inside the 10 and one was fair caught at the 10. Sander, meanwhile, placed three of 10 inside the 10 and one was fair caught at the 10.

-- Rob Demovsky, reporter, Green Bay Press-Gazette


Davenport, C. Rodgers, Hawkins return to practice

Three players who didn’t practice Tuesday morning — running back Najeh Davenport, receiver Cory Rodgers and cornerback Mike Hawkins — were suited up and working out at Tuesday night’s full-pads practice. Guard Junius Coston was not practicing Tuesday night. He also sat out the morning practice.

-- Rob Demosky, reporter, Green Bay Press-Gazette

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

"Cornerback Ahmad Carroll displayed good coverage in breaking up a deep pass from Rodgers to Donald Driver. "


Seems like I only hear good things about Caroll lately, interesting.........

[woodbuck27]

Carroll beat twice, intercepts Favre once

In one-on-one passing drills Monday afternoon,

Ahmad Carroll got beat deep by Robert Ferguson and short by Calvin Russell. Later in 7-on-7 drills, Carroll intercepted a Favre pass intended for tight end Tory Humphrey.

-- Mike Vandermause, sports editor, Green Bay Press-Gazette

[MadtownPacker]

"Cornerback Ahmad Carroll displayed good coverage in breaking up a deep pass from Rodgers to Donald Driver. "


Seems like I only hear good things about Caroll lately, interesting.........

Interesting but not surprising. The light turned on for Carroll towards the end of last season. The only surprise to me would be if he doesn't outperform Harris and Woodson. He is younger, faster, healthier, and hungrier too!

[Partial]

"Cornerback Ahmad Carroll displayed good coverage in breaking up a deep pass from Rodgers to Donald Driver. "


Seems like I only hear good things about Caroll lately, interesting.........

Interesting but not surprising. The light turned on for Carroll towards the end of last season. The only surprise to me would be if he doesn't outperform Harris and Woodson. He is younger, faster, healthier, and hungrier too!

Yes, but Woodson is a legitamate shutdown corner. Yes, he has been humbled by injuries, but have you seen that cat when he's on? The only one who's better is Champ. No way does he beat out Chuck, but I agree he could beat out Harris.

[SD GB fan]

Yes, but Woodson is a legitamate shutdown corner. Yes, he has been humbled by injuries, but have you seen that cat when he's on? The only one who's better is Champ. No way does he beat out Chuck, but I agree he could beat out Harris.

beating out harris is possible but carroll is going to have turn over another gear. yes carroll is more physically talented but harris has perfect technique. he knows wat to do with different WRs. that beats out speed any day just how good hands and routes are better than blazing speed or high verticals for WRs.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The Packers' first live two-minute drill in this year's training camp started with a bang but quickly fizzled during Tuesday night's practice.

The scenario put the No. 1 offense on its own 24-yard line with 1:45 on the clock, two timeouts, and a 14-10 deficit. Against the dime defense (six defensive backs), Brett Favre hit Greg Jennings deep down the sideline on the opening play for a 57-yard gain to the 19. Jennings made a nice catch against tight coverage from Jason Horton.

Favre then hit Bubba Franks for a 5-yard gain to the 14, but the drive stalled there. A run by Samkon Gado lost 3 yards and two penalties pushed the offense back another 15 yards. Then on fourth-and-long from the 32, Favre's deep ball down the middle seam to tight end David Martin was picked off by Tra Boger.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy was more frustrated the offense couldn't finish what it started than pleased the defense found a way to get the stop.

"When you're calling plays, I'm obviously rooting for the offense," McCarthy said. "But I'm proud of the defense.

"If you get hit on a big play like that -- the failure was more self-destructive because of the offense's penalties -- but that's a big-time stand for the defense."

McCarthy added that on the final play Favre made the correct read because Martin was the only receiver in single coverage, but the pass just didn't get through.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Getting adjusted

Much was made during mini-camps and the organized team activities of Gado's struggles to adapt to the new zone-blocking scheme, but he has looked much smoother and more decisive when his number has been called thus far in camp.

"I think Samkon, the way he runs the football, he's a guy you're going to see be more productive when he puts the pads on," McCarthy said. "He's not a slithery ... he's more of a power runner. I've been very pleased with him once we got into the padded work."

Gado confessed he probably makes the scheme more complicated than it needs to be, but he is letting his natural football instincts dictate his play more and it's helping him.

"I still think I have a long ways to go, but I'm encouraged with the growth I've seen so far," Gado said. "The thing that needs to be done is just to turn your brain off and just play. That's where I think the progress begins, not so much thinking. That's what I was doing before, thinking, and you can't do that out there."

Not so new

One player who hasn't had much trouble adjusting to the zone-blocking scheme is center Scott Wells, who played in a similar system at the University of Tennessee.

"I feel natural at it," he said. "I feel very comfortable with doing the reach blocking, trying to pick up linebackers on the run. I feel I'm built for that system and look forward to it."

With two rookie guards likely to start on either side of him, Wells has been lumped into the "young" interior of the offensive line that must prove itself. A third-year pro who started 10 games last year at guard, Wells has considerably more experience than Daryn Colledge or Jason Spitz, though he has never been a full-time starter at center since his days at Tennessee.

But Wells doesn't necessarily want to label anyone "young" until it's revealed how they perform in a game.

"I think if you ask anybody on the line we feel comfortable and confident with what we've got," he said. "To us the age factor is not really an issue. With the amount of time we've put in OTAs and mini-camps, we feel comfortable with the scheme. The preseason games will definitely help to see how we react to the live bullets."

Just for show
On kickoff return work during the morning practice, receiver Donald Driver was taking turns as the deep man along with Robert Ferguson, Greg Jennings and Ahmad Carroll.

But don't expect Driver to be doing the job during a game.

McCarthy said special teams coach Mike Stock was just working different units and getting them all adequate repetitions. Driver may have just been filling in for Cory Rodgers on one particular unit.

"I've never been on a team, and especially since it's my team, where the starting flanker is catching kickoffs," McCarthy said.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I like Carroll, but no way is he gonna beat-out Al Harris. Not this year.

[Row 67]

Its possible that if Woodson/Carrol havea good year, they can let Al Harris go after this year and go with Woodson/Carroll next year, and draft a corner in the top half of the draft to groom as Woodson's replacement.

Or, if Al Harris has a good year, they can show him a little love and have all three studs back next year.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't know why people assume Woodson is going to out-perform Harris. Harris has been a better player the last couple years.

I think it is more of the phenomena that fans want to believe in the incoming FA's, they know all the warts of the players who have been on the team for a while.

Same deal with Manual/Roman.

[Partial]

I don't know why people assume Woodson is going to out-perform Harris. Harris has been a better player the last couple years.

I think it is more of the phenomena that fans want to believe in the incoming FA's, they know all the warts of the players who have been on the team for a while.

Same deal with Manual/Roman.

Woodson has been injured man. Plus, number one corners like Chuck don't get thrown on. When he's on his game and healthy, Champ is the only better corner in the league

[Harlan Huckleby]

you might be right, Partial. I looked at his stats at NFL.com, and Woodson definitely peaked during first 3 years of his career, (passes defended, interceptions) even if you adjust for games played. He has been down since 2001.

A resurgence is possible, I'm sure he hasn't lost his talent. I just don't jump to conclusions that he will outperform steady Al.

[Deputy Nutz]

The thing about Woodson that you have to remember is tha teams simply did not test him after his first season. The Raiders were weak at the other cornerback position and that is where teams looked to throw. The last couple of years, although mared by injury, Woodson was playing a rover like position in the Raiders 3-5-3 scheme. He was asked to be more active in the run, and also cover the slot one on one.

Again, Woodson never had the shut down ability at corner like Deon Sanders, but injuries did slow him, he would still be considered a top 3 corner in this league based on talent alone.

Hopefully the Packers use Woodson in as many phases of the game as possible, he is a type of player that needs to be kept interested, and having him return punts is a start. Hopefully Carroll can prove that he is choice 1b when it comes to fielding a starting roster so Woodson can be used as a returner and also on offense.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Move Woodson to safety, as many people who have followed him closely have suggested. Start Carroll.

(I think this will happen eventually.)