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Camp Report, Aug. 2
THUMBS UP
The Packers might have found a bargain in linebacker Ben Taylor, an unrestricted free agent who signed a one-year deal for $665,000 and change. He didn’t stand out in Wednesday’s practice. It was one of those days where the offense seemed to be running weak-side in the run-down team sessions and Taylor plays strong side. But in Monday’s stifling heat, Taylor had the first three stops in that period and there has been evenness to his play that suggests he might squash any notions the coaches might have had about moving rookie Abdul Hodge from the middle to the strong side.
Taylor isn’t flashy. He doesn’t play with the snap of A.J. Hawk and Hodge. But he compensates for his modest speed and explosiveness in other ways. “Solid, solid camp,†said Reggie McKenzie, the Packers’ director of pro personnel. “He’s just an old-time football player. He’s an instinctive run defender. He understands the game.â€Â
THUMBS DOWN
It seems clear already that Marc Boerigter is no Joe Jurevicius. Boerigter is another unrestricted free agent with an affordable one-year deal worth $782,000 and change, but he’s no Taylor, either, or so it appears to this point.
Boerigter, a tall wide receiver at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, might be faster than the even taller Jurevicius (6-5, 230). But with Boerigter, it appears to be all-straight line speed. He’s about as stiff a wide receiver as you’ll see in a pro camp and he plays too erect. He also had problems making the tough catch in the off-season practices. Jurevicius, who helped Seattle get to the Super Bowl last year, is one of the best inside option route runners in the game. He gets off jams. He’s crafty. He also has deceptive quickness and some shiftiness to him.
In eight practices so far, Boerigter has only five receptions in team and seven-on-seven periods. The only wide receivers with fewer catches out of the 11 in camp are rookies Cory Rodgers, who has three, and Leo Bookman, who missed four practices and has been shut out.
INJURY REPORT
Cornerback Al Harris dropped out of practice with a hyper-extended right elbow.
Guard Junius Coston returned to practice. Running back Najeh Davenport (ankle) missed practice after returning Tuesday night.
Chad Clifton (knee), Arliss Beach (head) and Patrick Dendy (ankle) continued to miss practice.
ODDS & ENDS
Rookie wide receiver Chris Francies and first-year man Chad Lucas each beat cornerback Ahmad Carroll down the sideline for long gains in the team sessions. Aaron Rodgers threw both passes. Carroll also was flagged for pass interference on the final play of practice and squawked at the official.
Free agent tight end Zac Alcorn, who hasn’t done much in camp after looking good in June, stretched out and made a diving catch over the middle.
Hawk held the point and stretched out a run to the weak-side by Samkon Gado in the early team session devoted to running situations.
Kickers Billy Cundiff and Dave Rayner didn’t miss in their five tries each from the 29-, 34-, 39-, 44- and 52-yard lines.
Cornerback Jason Horton intercepted a pass in seven-on-seven. The pass, thrown by Brett Favre, went through the hands of tight end Tory Humphrey.
Newcomer Todd Williams has been working at right tackle.
The final 15 minutes or so of practice was conducted in a downpour. Temperatures also plummeted from beastly hot to in the low 70s.
ON THIS DAY
Aug. 3, 1925 – The Packers announced that for the first time in their history they would play three regular-season games on an Eastern swing. Team president Andrew Turnbull and coach Curly Lambeau returned from a league meeting in Chicago and revealed that games had been scheduled against the Pottsville Maroons on Nov. 26; the Frankford Yellowjackets on Nov. 28; and the Providence Steam Roller on Dec. 6. In their first four seasons in the NFL, the Packers never played any further east than Chicago.
SCHEDULE THURSDAY
There will be two practices: One at 9 a.m. and the other at 6:30 p.m. The players are scheduled to wear full pads only at the night practice.
THUMBS UP
The Packers might have found a bargain in linebacker Ben Taylor, an unrestricted free agent who signed a one-year deal for $665,000 and change. He didn’t stand out in Wednesday’s practice. It was one of those days where the offense seemed to be running weak-side in the run-down team sessions and Taylor plays strong side. But in Monday’s stifling heat, Taylor had the first three stops in that period and there has been evenness to his play that suggests he might squash any notions the coaches might have had about moving rookie Abdul Hodge from the middle to the strong side.
Taylor isn’t flashy. He doesn’t play with the snap of A.J. Hawk and Hodge. But he compensates for his modest speed and explosiveness in other ways. “Solid, solid camp,†said Reggie McKenzie, the Packers’ director of pro personnel. “He’s just an old-time football player. He’s an instinctive run defender. He understands the game.â€Â
THUMBS DOWN
It seems clear already that Marc Boerigter is no Joe Jurevicius. Boerigter is another unrestricted free agent with an affordable one-year deal worth $782,000 and change, but he’s no Taylor, either, or so it appears to this point.
Boerigter, a tall wide receiver at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, might be faster than the even taller Jurevicius (6-5, 230). But with Boerigter, it appears to be all-straight line speed. He’s about as stiff a wide receiver as you’ll see in a pro camp and he plays too erect. He also had problems making the tough catch in the off-season practices. Jurevicius, who helped Seattle get to the Super Bowl last year, is one of the best inside option route runners in the game. He gets off jams. He’s crafty. He also has deceptive quickness and some shiftiness to him.
In eight practices so far, Boerigter has only five receptions in team and seven-on-seven periods. The only wide receivers with fewer catches out of the 11 in camp are rookies Cory Rodgers, who has three, and Leo Bookman, who missed four practices and has been shut out.
INJURY REPORT
Cornerback Al Harris dropped out of practice with a hyper-extended right elbow.
Guard Junius Coston returned to practice. Running back Najeh Davenport (ankle) missed practice after returning Tuesday night.
Chad Clifton (knee), Arliss Beach (head) and Patrick Dendy (ankle) continued to miss practice.
ODDS & ENDS
Rookie wide receiver Chris Francies and first-year man Chad Lucas each beat cornerback Ahmad Carroll down the sideline for long gains in the team sessions. Aaron Rodgers threw both passes. Carroll also was flagged for pass interference on the final play of practice and squawked at the official.
Free agent tight end Zac Alcorn, who hasn’t done much in camp after looking good in June, stretched out and made a diving catch over the middle.
Hawk held the point and stretched out a run to the weak-side by Samkon Gado in the early team session devoted to running situations.
Kickers Billy Cundiff and Dave Rayner didn’t miss in their five tries each from the 29-, 34-, 39-, 44- and 52-yard lines.
Cornerback Jason Horton intercepted a pass in seven-on-seven. The pass, thrown by Brett Favre, went through the hands of tight end Tory Humphrey.
Newcomer Todd Williams has been working at right tackle.
The final 15 minutes or so of practice was conducted in a downpour. Temperatures also plummeted from beastly hot to in the low 70s.
ON THIS DAY
Aug. 3, 1925 – The Packers announced that for the first time in their history they would play three regular-season games on an Eastern swing. Team president Andrew Turnbull and coach Curly Lambeau returned from a league meeting in Chicago and revealed that games had been scheduled against the Pottsville Maroons on Nov. 26; the Frankford Yellowjackets on Nov. 28; and the Providence Steam Roller on Dec. 6. In their first four seasons in the NFL, the Packers never played any further east than Chicago.
SCHEDULE THURSDAY
There will be two practices: One at 9 a.m. and the other at 6:30 p.m. The players are scheduled to wear full pads only at the night practice.
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