Mini camp updates

[Joemailman]

My guess is that Al opens the season as the nickel back. That will reduce his snaps, and also reduce the times that he has to make tackles in run support.

[Tony Oday]

I would guess Al starts at Nickle the 7th game. He has PUP written all over him.

I LOVE Jenkins at OLB...if he can cover he will be a freaking MONSTER at OLB.

[RashanGary]

I like that they're testing guys skills out at multiple spots. Our 7th round draft pick has some pretty special tape in college with him rushing the edge. He's big like a 3-4 DE, but the way he plays, his game is taylor made to rush the edge.

I don't want to see Wilson play OLB, but the fact that Capers tries players out at so many spots gives me hope that they'll eventually line Wilson out a little wider than the the 5-technique at some point. I don't expect much from rookies, but next year, I think Wilson has talent to be a really dangerous pass rusher but only if he's allowed to use his unusual speed for a guy his size on the outside.

And I know Wilson only runs a 4.8 or whatever it was, but whatever it is that he does, he gets up field faster than guys his size. It stood out to me as impressive, just how well he pressed the edge for a 290 pounder.

[packrulz]

Jun 22 5:12 ET
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the training camp scripts have been set. The offensive line rotations, including Bryan Bulaga at LT, will remain the same. When T.J. Lang (wrist) returns, he'll work in at RT and RG.
Jun 22 5:10 ET
Packers WRs Jordy Nelson and James Jones have flourished while Donald Driver (knee surgery) has been out. "I think James Jones and Jordy Nelson have had outstanding offseasons," coach Mike McCarthy said. "If you go through the OTA films, Jones probably stands out as one of the top performers through the OTAs."
Jun 22 5:08 ET
Packers coach Mike McCarthy on the possibility of adding a veteran OLB at some point. "We'll look at some individuals over the summer. We'll continue to evaluate that and watch what goes on around the league."
Jun 22 5:06 ET
Packers LB Nick Barnett said he didn't have to have his knee scoped: "I wanted to clean it up a little bit. Had some scar tissue from the ACL in there that was hindering the extension of my knee. I could have really not done it. But I feel like I get more performance."
Jun 22 5:05 ET
Packers CB Charles Woodson said he's already at his 200-pound playing weight thanks to the boxing workouts he started doing. Woodson normally is about 12 pounds heavier at this time of year. Boxing also helped strengthen his troublesome right shoulder.

[Guiness]

That tape of Al is something else. Unbelievable that he's doing those things so soon after the injury.

Man's a true pro.

[packerbacker1234]

I would not bet against Al harris starting week 1. I know the "odds are against him" - but look at that progress. He is cutting and changing direction multiple times, he's been backpeddling at close to full speed for awhile, exploding in sprints, and previous videos really showed how he almost has the full range of motion of back.

If you watch the last few episodes of his come back, he's already back to working out with his own personal trainer who has helped him prepare for the last 11 seasons, doing the same sort of drills he does every year in preparation.

As always doctors are just being careful to not give him the the okay for full contact padded practices too early, but he is already able to almost do his entire pre-season workout. That speaks volumes.

Honestly, Give it till the end of august and I can easily see him given the okay for full practices, given current progress and how it is all focused right now and getting him back into football shape.

[Fritz]

I'd feel better about the team easing him back in. I don't want him to come back too soon and reinjure himself.

[KYPack]

I would guess Al starts at Nickle the 7th game. He has PUP written all over him.

I LOVE Jenkins at OLB...if he can cover he will be a freaking MONSTER at OLB.

Easy, Tony.

They are giving him coverage reps, so he can be used effectively in that 'Pyscho' package. It would be psycho to play Cullen in a regular OLB spot.

[Tony Oday]

I would guess Al starts at Nickle the 7th game. He has PUP written all over him.

I LOVE Jenkins at OLB...if he can cover he will be a freaking MONSTER at OLB.

Easy, Tony.

They are giving him coverage reps, so he can be used effectively in that 'Pyscho' package. It would be psycho to play Cullen in a regular OLB spot.

lol oh I know I dont want him an Every Down guy there but I would like to see Jenkins and Mathews blitzing on the outside and Raji collapsing the pocket.

[MJZiggy]

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel confirms that "the odds are stacked against" CB Al Harris (knee surgery) playing football again.

This is more reason to believe that Harris won't be ready for Week 1, as we've suspected. While the 35-year-old has a great work ethic history, the knee injury Harris suffered late last season was as severe as it was rare. The Packers were lucky that Tramon Williams didn't hold out for more money.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

We didn't know this in February? Everybody knew it was severe. Everybody knew it was rare. Yeah, the odds are "stacked against him" but that doesn't mean it ain't gonna happen.

We also all know that these folks like to post "crap we all already knew" and "speculative BS."

[RashanGary]

Aaron Kampan blew out his ACL in the same game or close to if I recall correctly. Kampman got a really big contract in the offseason with guaranteed money.


Harris blew out more than just his ACL. He's older than Kampman. He's also lighter than Kampman. He's in fantastic shape, He's an extremely hard worker.

Seeing the contract Kampman got tells me what they think of his chances of coming back. I know Harris is fighting a tougher battle and there was a time when I questioned if he'd make it back, but I'm starting to think Harris will probably play again. Maybe he won't be close to 100% until the middle or end of the season, but I think we'll be getting good play out of him by the playoffs. Hopefully we make it that far.

[Joemailman]

Packers could probably do without Harris early, assuming their other CB's are healthy. Vikings on October 24 are really the first outstanding passing offense the face:

Sunday, September 12 at Philadelphia Eagles 3:15 p.m. _____
Sunday, September 19 BUFFALO BILLS 12:00 p.m. _____
Monday, September 27 at Chicago Bears 7:30 p.m. _____
Sunday, October 3 DETROIT LIONS 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, October 10 at Washington Redskins 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, October 17 MIAMI DOLPHINS 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, October 24 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 7:20 p.m. CBS _____
Sunday, October 31 at New York Jets 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, November 7 DALLAS COWBOYS 7:20 p.m. _____
Sunday, November 14 Open Date _____
Sunday, November 21 at Minnesota Vikings 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, November 28 at Atlanta Falcons 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, December 5 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, December 12 at Detroit Lions 12:00 p.m. _____
Sunday, December 19 at New England Patriots 7:20 p.m. _____
Sunday, December 26 NEW YORK GIANTS 3:15 p.m. _____
Sunday, January 2 CHICAGO BEARS 12:00 p.m. _____

[packrulz]

Jun 23 7:25 ET
Special; teams coordinator Shawn Slocum is concerned about the catching struggles of his punt returners with Will Blackmon (ACL) out, especially undrafted free agent Sam Shields. "It makes me nervous as hell when guys are dropping the ball," Slocum said. "Sam needs to be consistent catching the ball before we can put him out there and have our whole organization rely on him to catch a punt."
Jun 23 7:20 ET
Special eams coordinator Shawn Slocum said the punting competition between Tim Masthay and Chris Bryan likely won't be decided until the exhibition games. Neither has punted in an NFL game. "The game is the environment that we have to ultimately critique the players and I think that's going to be where we see the one guy that will rise to the top," Slocum said.
Jun 23 6:52 ET
First-round pick Bryan Bulaga hopes he'll be in training camp on time, but he admits that's not certain. "There's a business part of it," he said. "(Packers VP Russ) Ball and my agent, Tom Condon, their job is to do that. Would I like to be on time? Absolutely I 'd like to be out working. But there's a business side to it."
Jun 23 3:46 ET
The Packers have signed OG Marshall Newhouse, RB James Starks and DE C.J. Wilson. They are the first of the Packers' seven draft picks to sign. They were taken in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.

[Fritz]

Sam Shields sounds like Cory Rogers without the gun.

[Pugger]

Would Shields be a good candidate for PS?