Official Training Camp Thread

[pbmax]

Doug Farrar of Football Outsiders said DJ Williams looked phenomenal at Senior Bowl and Don Banks is a believer as well. Banks, who lives in Madison, apparently is at Packer camp tonight.

[mission]

I think that can be extrapolated from his general attitude. Hate hate hate him as a person, love him as a player. I don't think there has ever been a bigger delta bravo on Twitter. It's quite the conundrum.

OK, that's what I thought--and I agree with that as well since I've followed him for awhile. I think the biggest part of that equation is his diva wife and how she wants to be the next real housewife or something. Must admit that I follow her too even though I'm often tempted to un-follow. He'd be smart to stay here and play 10 years with Rodgers putting up a HOF-type career but a lot of guys get derailed on the way and never make it.

And if DJ Williams shows some early flashes, will he look at that like he wants to be part of something amazing or will he look at it like he's not getting enough balls? Curious to see how it unfolds.

[gbgary]

sounds like the o will be unstoppable. is it possible to have too many offensive weapons? pass d is no concern but i hope we can stop the run better than we did last year.

[pbmax]

From the Press Gazette Live Blog and Pancake Factory: Sunday Night Practice, July 31st 2011

Copeland: Sherrod back at LG again with the 1s. Bulaga at rt. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland:  No. 2 o line. Newhouse, lang, McDonald, schlauderaff, Campbell. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Randall Cobb gets the first punt return rep, catching balls from the machine. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Others getting punt return reps: Smithson, K. Taylor, Borel, Collins, Nelson, Tramon Williams and Shields. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: One new injury so far, rookie tackle Theo Sherman is out. He practiced yesterday. [via Twitter]
	
kareemcopeland: Cj Wilson at right end with no. 1s again. [via Twitter]

PeteDougherty: T Theo Sherman, an undrafted rookie, not practicing tpnight, injury unknown [via Twitter]
	
kareemcopeland: Quarless, briggs, eli Joseph and theo Sherman out. [via Twitter]

PeteDougherty: Randall Cobb lining up as no.1 punt returner, no surprise there. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Cobb gets the crowd clapping on last punt return. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: There are 2 Taylors, 2 Jennings, 2 Josephs, 2 Jones, 2 Williams and 2 Greens on the roster. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: No punt return drops that I saw. Much better than last training camp. Remember Shields' struggles? [via Twitter]

PeteDougherty: Just like last night, finley, burnett n meal doing only individual-type work [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: Insider LB crew besides Hawk and Bishop: Cardia Jackson, Elijah Joseph, D.J. Smith, Robert Francois. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Good punt return. Kid is quick. RT @PackAttack012 What'd Cobb do to get people to applaud? [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: rookie Chris Donaldson on the sideline.
	
kareemcopeland: Kinda weird seeing jerry fontenot working with the running backs instead Edgar Bennett. [via Twitter]

PeteDougherty: DE Chris donaldson pulled from practice with possible shoulder imjury [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: Injury report: DE Chris Donaldson standing to the side with some kind of wrap on his shoulders. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: Woodson talking it up during drills. He commands respect and is the leader of secondary. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Can mark Murphy be fined for rockin Nikes? League contract with Reebok. [via Twitter]
	
PeteDougherty: In skeleton passing drill (no defense, no OL), finley catches 2 balls, second one-handed, when extra ball mistakenly thrown to him. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Erik Walden working at ROLB with the first group today. It was Zombo yesterday. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Walden with no. 1s at rolb. It was zombo yesterday. He said earlier they'd be rotating. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Hitch from Rodgers to Cobb. We could see a lot of that from those two. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: brad Jones gets a rolb rep with the 1s. I wanna say good swim move, but no pads so... [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Twos are in now and Zombo is at LOLB and B. Jones at ROLB. Yesterday Jones worked on the other side. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Newhouse getting a lot of reps at LT with the ones. Clifton looks to be getting a light load tonight. [via Twitter]
	
kareemcopeland: Rookie TE Ryan Taylor confused on last rep. Harrell had to point where to line up. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: Battery on new EVO fading fast. Going to my Matt Flynn backup phone. Don't have third phone on my roster. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Francois and cardia jackson still with 2s at inside linebacker [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: TJ Lang now taking some LT reps. Well one rep and the period ended. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Now Clifton is back in. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: James Starks did a nice job in pass pro, picking up Matthews. Perhaps he's a candidate for the third down back responsibilities. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: 
Peprah picks Rodgers on pass intended for Cobb. Possible Cobb ran wrong route. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Brad Jones has gotten into the backfield a lot tonight. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Trgovac giving Cj Wilson the business. Not a happy camper. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Good break on the ball by tramon Williams. Near int. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Second free play cuz of an offside. First one Peprah INT'd. This one Flynn hit a wide open Driver down the middle. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: 7 on 7 time. [via Twitter]
	
RobDemovsky: Raji smoked Sherrod with an inside move in one on one pass rush drill. Again, no pads tho. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Raji with a sweet inside move on 1on1s. Quick as H-E-double hockeysticks [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: Tramon Williams nearly picks slightly underthrown Rodgers pass in 7 on 7. Williams nearly had pick earlier in practice. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Wynn toast rookie dominguez in 1on1. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: Lawrence Guy really struggling these first few days with technique. Undrafted rookie Sampson just flattened him in one on one. [via Twitter]
	
kareemcopeland: Rookie guard sampson genus is really short. And this is coming from a short guy. Listed at 6 foot. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: Rookie tight end DJ Williams has made a couple nice catches tonight. Hurry back to health, Andrew Quarless! [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: Woodson, Jennings, Collins, Tramon Williams gathered on sideline and seem to be genuinely happy to be here. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Alex green drops first kickoff of jugs machine [via Twitter]
	
kareemcopeland: Cj Wilson limping off field. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: No. 1 KR team: Bush, Francois, B. Jones, Zombo, underwood, DJ Williams, Crabtree, K. Taylor, Wilson, West and Green. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: C.J. Wilson goes down in heap on kick return. Walks off, being attended to by trainers. [via Twitter]

==CJ later returned==

RobDemovsky: Cobb was No. 2 returner, Pat Lee was third. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Pat lee with a kickoff return. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Cobb with another kickoff return. Again, dude is quick. [via Twitter]
	
kareemcopeland: Crazy catch by dj Williams on ball thrown behind him. Jennings with a deep rd catch. Ran past shields. [via Twitter]

PeteDougherty: Jennings beats shields on go route.from rodgets for long td [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Think the Chinese joint would deliver to the practice field? #hungry [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Wilson back in for team period. [via Twitter]

kareemcopeland: Tramon int rodgers deep ball intended for driver. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: He's not doing 11 on 11 by design. Only individuals. RT "@AndyBinderMO: @RobDemovsky Rob- have u seen Neal 2nite [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: DJ Williams can catch. That has been established. I count 4 nice receptions tonight. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky: #Packers have told Anthony Smith they won't be re-signing him, Smith said in a text message. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: McCarthy: Wilson bruised calf. Donaldson collarbone. [via Twitter]
	
MikeVandermause: MM: Lot of positive things at practice tonight. Not many mental mistakes. Will work on tempo. [via Twitter]

RobDemovsky:  McCarthy said Finley did more today, could possibly be full go by Wednesday. [via Twitter]

MikeVandermause: MM: Hopefully Quarless will be ready to practice by end of week. [via Twitter]

[vince]

Some more training camp observations from a Green Bay blogger.

http://www.totalpackers.com/2011/07/31/training-camp-observations-7-31-shells/

The most wonderful time of the year is finally back, Green Bay Packers football. It’s my pleasure to work with Total Packers again to bring you any training camp info that I can… but enough talk, let’s get down to it.

A reason to watch special teams
The answer? Packers second-round draft pick Randall Cobb. This guy just looks like he gets it. I heard that he had some trouble fielding punts yesterday, but none of that was apparent today. He caught the ball with ease, is lightning quick and fearless. I enjoy seeing a returner that makes a cut and gets north-south in a hurry as well as a guy who isn’t afraid to take it right up the middle. Cobb does both of these things and early indications are that he at least looks the part. He also looks like he can produce big gains on offense with limited touches, as was evident when he made a move and blew past Clay Matthews on an end around. How many guys can the Packers load up with that have great hands and excel in running after the catch? Knowing that Cobb is the Packers fifth receiver shows how stacked the Packers are at the skill positions.

Another threat at tight end
The talk coming into the league’s training camps was how difficult it would be for the rookies to get caught up since the lockout cancelled all of the team’s normal offseason activities. Thankfully for the Packers, D.J. Williams didn’t get the memo. Last year’s Mackey Award winner has come into training camp firing on all cylinders. I heard how great he showed in the first practice and I was blown away by the number of catches he made as well as his ability to get open. He also had one of the plays of the night with a one-armed snag of an overthrown ball on an out route to the sideline. Best yet, he didn’t just catch the ball, but instantly turned upfield transitioning seamlessly to a runner. We’ve thought in the past that keeping four tight ends was borderline crazy, but this year I can guarantee that it’s expected.

Burnett’s return
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Charlie Peprah and the things he brings to the table, but Morgan Burnett has Pro Bowl safety written all over him. During safety drills he made a catch on a ball thrown high and to the sideline, extending his arms and coming down in time to drag his toes before landing out of bounds. I’ve been on the Morgan Burnett bandwagon since he was drafted, but it’s evident that this guy has the range and ball skills to become a great player, potentially elite. The Packers may lose some physicality with Burnett over Peprah but the ability to create turnovers is what this defense really thrives on and Burnett could become a force in making game changing plays.

Odds and ends
Derek Sherrod was with the No. 1 unit at left guard. There were some great throws by the quarterbacks and some really awful ones with Matt Flynn being the biggest offender. C.J. Wilson looked like he was injured by a kick to the calf, but he returned for team drills at the end. Newly re-signed fullback John Kuhn could be seen on the sidelines, as well as recent signees Mason Crosby, Spencer Havner, and Brett Swain. Andrew Quarless was in shells but did not take part in any team drills.

[Scott Campbell]

There ends OTA's and Minicamp. Fully padded practices begin tomorrow.

Seems like they started only yesterday.

[pbmax]

I think that can be extrapolated from his general attitude. Hate hate hate him as a person, love him as a player. I don't think there has ever been a bigger delta bravo on Twitter. It's quite the conundrum.

Really, hate? Someone you have never met?

[Brandon494]

Really, hate? Someone you have never met?

Besides having poor PR skills I don't understand the hate towards Finley from some fans. He doesn't seem to be lazy and has never caused trouble off the field.

[Scott Campbell]

Besides having poor PR skills I don't understand the hate towards Finley from some fans. He doesn't seem to be lazy and has never caused trouble off the field.

I think he's a budding diva.

[HowardRoark]

Really, hate? Someone you have never met?

I follow the guy on Twitter and have never understood the dislike for the guy; thinking he is an egomaniac. I think he is humorous and very much into being a Packer and a good teammate. I just don’t see it.

[pbmax]

I follow the guy on Twitter and have never understood the dislike for the guy; thinking he is an egomaniac. I think he is humorous and very much into being a Packer and a good teammate. I just don’t see it.

Agree. I think if he is the biggest concern for the unity of the team and its command structure, then the Packers are lacking in actual problems.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I like Finley, but I do worry about him becoming a diva. It gives me the creeps that he lives in Minneapolis. I like him, but I'm a bit worried that he'll become a malcontent if he doesn't get the ball enough (and then leave via FA).

[rbaloha1]

Finely probably has a monster season thus becoming unsignable. IMO Sitton is a more important signing.

Williams is probably the H back thus Quinn Johnson is bye bye.

Cobb is probably the wildcat qb. The offense is going to be unstoppable.

[Smidgeon]

So, I really like that I'm getting all my training camp updates here. No need for me to go out and read websites to find out what happened. Although, I might just for some more pictures. Can't get enough football after this unusually dry offseason...

[Lurker64]

I like Finley, but I do worry about him becoming a diva. It gives me the creeps that he lives in Minneapolis. I like him, but I'm a bit worried that he'll become a malcontent if he doesn't get the ball enough (and then leave via FA).

I don't think he lives in Minneapolis, I just think his doctor lives there and that's where he was rehabbing in the offseason.