Official Training Camp Thread

[Lurker64]

I would think Lang is pretty much a lock to make the roster, since he backs up four positions (maybe five? I don't know if he can snap) if he doesn't start. If there was someone threatening to contend for the top three at offensive guard other than Lang, we would have heard about him by now.

The only scenario in which a healthy Lang loses his roster spot is if both McDonald and EDS outplay him in the preseason, and neither of those guys have done really anything to impress so far. But both of those guys are better OCs than OGs so we almost certainly keep only one, and we do need backup guards.

Ray Dominguez and Caleb Schlauderaff are no threat to T.J. Lang, and we're thin at guard (for a TC roster) as it is.

[pbmax]

Maybe it is. Recall Lang is coming off injury and played poorly last season. Although he is no Barbre, Lang should not take anything for granted.

Lang was coming off an injury in training camp last season. He is currently coming off a subpar season.

[vince]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/127434708.html

JSO Training Camp Report

--- For one night, it was the Matt Flynn Show at Ray Nitschke Field. With Aaron Rodgers joining a group of select veterans who got the night off, Flynn took the reins.

The night was far from perfect again for Green Bay’s offense. But despite a leaky pocket and occasional drops, Flynn fared well. Excluding one goal-line segment, he was an unofficial 10 of 19. Both Flynn and Graham Harrell saw the field plenty Tuesday night.

“I told the quarterbacks beforehand, ‘You have the keys,’” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Take it for a ride. Let’s go. I thought both of those guys did very well.”

Among Flynn’s best throws was one tight-window deep out to Jordy Nelson with Sam Shields in close coverage. He did throw one drive-killing interception to Morgan Burnett in a two-minute drill. Flynn hit Chastin West on a pair of completions, including one difficult fade route. A pair of Flynn's passes, including the Burnett pick, sailed just a bit high to Randall Cobb. Overall, he displayed the improved command coaches hoped for.

Harrell wasn’t bad, either, hooking up with undrafted rookie receiver Tori Gurley for a 50-yarder. A year ago, Harrell rarely made protection calls at the line. This year, quarterbacks Tom Clements said he's doing that much more often. The former Texas Tech star is feeling more comfortable under center.

"I thought they both did well," Clements said. "They both did very well. A lot of the younger guys who got more reps tonight, this was their opportunity to gain more experience. There was a lot of enthusiasm."

--- Veterans entering their seventh season or later got the night off -- Donald Driver, Chad Clifton, Scott Wells, Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Pickett, Howard Green, Charles Woodson and Nick Collins. Giving these guys a breather allowed for several backups to get more reps Tuesday -- crucial considering training camp is already shortened.

With installations picking up, McCarthy wanted to challenge younger players.

"I wanted to make sure those young guys are given an opportunity for a difficult practice," McCarthy said. "There was a lot of quality work out there tonight."

--- In detailing his offensive line, McCarthy reiterated that the competition at left guard is between Derek Sherrod and T.J. Lang. Meanwhile, Nick McDonald "has a chance" he said, but the coach feels he'll play him "more exclusively" at center. Tackle Marshall Newhouse was also back practicing after leaving Monday's session with a shoulder injury.

--- The competition at tight end continues behind Jermichael Finley. On a traditionally TE-friendly team, McCarthty says this is the best group he's had. Rookies D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor join Andrew Quarless, Tom Crabtree and Spencer Havner in a battle for possibly three spots.

"It's the body type you can't have enough of," McCarthy said. "We have six tight ends in camp who all have unique qualities. They all can play in all three positions...Extended, on the line, in the backfield and also in movement. It's the best tight end group we've had here talent-wise and it's the most diverse group."

[vince]

In his post-practice press conference, McCarthy called the battle at left guard "wide open" between Sherrod and Lang.

[Guiness]

uh-oh. Did he say he liked all 6 tight ends?

I just about had a cardiac when he kept 4 last year...

[red]

i was there tonight

chastin west is very interesting. he has pretty much no chance of making the team. however he got a lot of reps tonight, and had t-will covering him every time. almost every time he lined up the ball ended up coming his way, and he made a lot of nice catches. ran nice clean routes and showed some nice hands and concentration.

oh, and randall cobb. that guy is on a whole other level. very quick in and out of his cuts, and just looked like he was playing at a different speed then everyone else, even jennings

[Harlan Huckleby]

oh, and randall cobb. that guy is on a whole other level. very quick in and out of his cuts, and just looked like he was playing at a different speed then everyone else, even jennings

I wonder if he might leap frog to #2 reciever before the year is out.

[Harlan Huckleby]

In his post-practice press conference, McCarthy called the battle at left guard "wide open" between Sherrod and Lang.

The fix is in for Sherrod unless he totally blows up. The team benefits long term from Sherrod getting experience, so a finger is on the scale in this contest. Life is not fair.

[rbaloha1]

I would think Lang is pretty much a lock to make the roster, since he backs up four positions (maybe five? I don't know if he can snap) if he doesn't start. If there was someone threatening to contend for the top three at offensive guard other than Lang, we would have heard about him by now.



The only scenario in which a healthy Lang loses his roster spot is if both McDonald and EDS outplay him in the preseason, and neither of those guys have done really anything to impress so far. But both of those guys are better OCs than OGs so we almost certainly keep only one, and we do need backup guards.

Ray Dominguez and Caleb Schlauderaff are no threat to T.J. Lang, and we're thin at guard (for a TC roster) as it is.

I would not discount Ray or Caleb without the benefit of watching pre season games. In fact TT put in a request for an Ohio State guard that was awarded to Carolina.

The lockout actually benefits since the competition has less teaching instruction and reps. Lang may win by default.

[rbaloha1]

I wonder if he might leap frog to #2 reciever before the year is out.

A smaller shiftier slot receiver is something the Packers have sought. (Shame on folks who thought Swain was "poor man's Wes Welker.)

Cobb could play a big role this season.

[red]

one other thing that i noticed yesterday, and loved, was that finley was often lined up out wide on the sideline. the d would counter this by single covering him with a safety, thus moving him right out of the box where you would like to have him.

when this happened, finley would just take off at full speed, deep, along the sideline

i'll take that mismatch every day. gonna be a fun year watching him destroy teams every week

[Upnorth]

I read on sportsline that "Harrell's accuracy continues to awe". Is this true? If so, does this allow us to trade Flynn next year? I would love to see Rodgers have a series of backups we can trade for gain like in the past.

If Finley is taking the saftey outside with him that would help out the run game a bit, and since I don't think Sherrod will be a road grader LG, every bit helps.

[Patler]

I read on sportsline that "Harrell's accuracy continues to awe". Is this true? If so, does this allow us to trade Flynn next year? I would love to see Rodgers have a series of backups we can trade for gain like in the past.

There is no "next year" for trading Flynn, his contract is up this year and he will become a free agent. The Packers could take the extraordinary step of franchising him, but I believe that is extremely unlikely.

[red]

I read on sportsline that "Harrell's accuracy continues to awe". Is this true? If so, does this allow us to trade Flynn next year? I would love to see Rodgers have a series of backups we can trade for gain like in the past.

If Finley is taking the saftey outside with him that would help out the run game a bit, and since I don't think Sherrod will be a road grader LG, every bit helps.

i was in the end where flynn and harrell were throwing balls into the nets from like 20 or 30 yards away. from what i saw, flynn is waaaaaaay more accurate the harrell

oh, and FYI. Cobb also has a cannon for an arm and throws a nice tight spiral. just something to keep in mind

one other thing i'd like to mention is, after last night, my respect for james jones shot up through the roof. the amount of shit that guy takes from the fans, to his face, is really pathetic. he came out and got on a kids bike with a big smile on his face and some asshole makes a crack about him needing to hang onto the ball, or not to drop the bike. then every time he caught a ball, a few dozen people would give him sarcastic cheers. one guy next to me even made sure everyone could hear him when he would yell out, "holy shit, he held on to one". then after the next nice catch, "holy shit, he held on to another. if it wasn't for the guy having 4 little kids with him, i would have thumped his ginger ass right on the spot. to jones credit, he kept a smile on his face the whole time, and did look really good.

i've bashed jones on here, but my god, in person lets try to give him some support, not kick him in the nuts. dudes got talent, he just has some mental lapses. and ragging on him all the time isn't going to help fix that IMO

[Smidgeon]

i was there tonight

chastin west is very interesting. he has pretty much no chance of making the team. however he got a lot of reps tonight, and had t-will covering him every time. almost every time he lined up the ball ended up coming his way, and he made a lot of nice catches. ran nice clean routes and showed some nice hands and concentration.

oh, and randall cobb. that guy is on a whole other level. very quick in and out of his cuts, and just looked like he was playing at a different speed then everyone else, even jennings

Everytime I hear about someone sticking out in training camp (in a good way), I think back to Christl's first impression about James Lofton. He said something along the lines of "Lofton was just a stallion on the field and everyone else looked pedestrian." So whenever someone flashes, I wonder if we're seeing the beginning of the same thing. Probably not since Lofton was a special talent, but maybe.