Official 2012 Training Camp Discussion Thread

[Fritz]

I hope Shields rebounds, but the key in camp - beyond shining for a brief moment - is to be consistently good and assignment sure. That's what we'll have to wait and see about with all these young dudes.

Hayward seems to have the best head for it. Shields seems to have the speed and ball instincts but may not have the necessary mentality and drive. House seems to have good natural ability and maybe is learning that you can't ever let up in the NFL. Jarrett Bush, as someone else noted, seems to have the longest learning curve of any player ever.

We haven't talked about the safeties much. I wonder how Burnett and MD Jennings are doing.

[Joemailman]

Right now the Packers have at least 6 CB's worth keeping, but maybe only 3 safeties. (Burnett, McMillan, Jennings) If Levine doesn't have a strong camp, there could be a pickup or trade on cutdown day.

[Brandon494]

Right now the Packers have at least 6 CB's worth keeping, but maybe only 3 safeties. (Burnett, McMillan, Jennings) If Levine doesn't have a strong camp, there could be a pickup or trade on cutdown day.

Remember Woodson will now also be playing safety and Bush has experience there as well. I could see them keeping only Burnett, McMillan, and Jennings at safety if need be, but I think Levine will end up making the team.

[Joemailman]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports...rt=newestfirst

Interesting to see Sam Shields returning kicks on the first KR unit. Wouldn't read too much into it on July 31 but Slocum mixing it up.
by TyDunne via twitter 9:09 AM

Jarius Wynn picks off Aaron Rodgers on a screen pass. Don't see that too often. Defense goes nuts. #Packers
by TyDunne via twitter 9:32 AM

Dime has Bush and Woodson in the slot and Williams and House outside.
by TomSilverstein via twitter 9:33 AM

House getting all the reps with 1s but I think this thing will change depending who has a good day. Unless House grabs it and runs with it.
by TomSilverstein via twitter 9:44 AM

Burnett nice break up on deep ball, but could have intercepted. Then comes back and drills Finley over the middle. Then picks off Rodgers.
by TomSilverstein via twitter 9:54 AM

erron McMillian active in the slot. He said that'd be his biggest adjustment to the pros. Physical guy. He'll keep getting looks there.
by TyDunne via twitter 10:25 AM

Donald Driver opens up red zone work with a pair of touchdown catches from Rodgers. Still has it physically. Can't argue with that.
by TyDunne via twitter 10:27 AM

TD catch by Gurley to end practice. From Harrell, back shoulder on Shields. CB didn't turn around quick enough. Bobbled, caught by 86.
by TyDunne via twitter 10:48 AM

[pbmax]

The Packers should name the dime defense BushWood.

[Brandon494]

Per Packers Training Camp:

Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke following Green Bay’s fifth training camp practice Tuesday. Some highlights from McCarthy’s post-practice presser:

Defensive end Ryan Pickett suffered a knee bruise. He was on the sidelines during a good chunk of Tuesday’s practice icing the injury. UDFA RB Marc Tyler had a shoulder bruise and rookie DE Mike Daniels was getting his knee/groin looked at following practice. No timetables were set for any of the three players.

Speaking of timetables, McCarthy said he thinks WR Greg Jennings (elbow) can return for Wednesday’s practice. He also speculated that LB Desmond Bishop (calf) and FB John Kuhn (knee) might be ready by the end of the week. Bishop and Kuhn have yet to practice during camp.

McCarthy was impressed with S Morgan Burnett, who he called one of the Packers young players “ready to step into the forefront.” Burnett had his most impressive practice of 2012 Tuesday, with a number of turnovers caused in 11-on-11 drills. Heading into his third NFL season, Burnett may be ready for a breakout season.

It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, but McCarthy again praised (when prompted) CB Davon House Tuesday. McCarthy said House’s body type is well-suited for bump-and-run coverage and that he is playing off that strength early in camp. “Definitely a different player this year,” McCarthy said. Sounds more and more like House is being groomed as a player much like Al Harris was during his time in Green Bay.

McCarthy said that CB Sam Shields was getting better with his technique, but that it still needs improvement. He still relies too much on his speed. No surprise there. Shields still peeks into the backfield too often and, because of that fault, gets beat on double moves.

McCarthy praised WR Donald Driver, who clearly had his best practice of 2012. The veteran pass-catcher hauled in at least three touchdown catches during 11-on-11 drills, including one in the two-minute situation. Barring a catastrophic injury, Driver is making this football team.

Other Notes

Seventh-round QB B.J. Coleman gave some good looks Tuesday. He clearly has all the arm talent necessary to make it in the NFL, and he proved it with a couple of laser throws to the far hashmarks. There was also another sequence where Coleman stepped up in a crowded pocket and delivered a completion into a tight window. Small steps to be sure, but encouraging ones, too. He has a bright future.

Tight end D.J. Williams continues to catch everything thrown his way. So far in camp, he’s gotten his share of looks in the passing game.

Two rookies—safety Jerron McMillian and linebacker Terrell Manning—might have had their most active practice to date. McMillian had at least one pass-breakup while playing near the line of scrimmage, and Manning was everywhere during a stretch with the No. 2 defense.

Jermichael Finley had a couple of nice catches in his first day back from a concussion. On one touchdown, Finley motioned out wide and had no problem hauling in a short slant route from Aaron Rodgers for the score. M.D. Jennings, the man in coverage on the play, didn’t have a chance.

The Packers return to practice Wednesday, in full pads, at 8:15 a.m. CT.

[Fritz]

The Packers should name the dime defense BushWood.

Or the Wood and Bush.

[Joemailman]

Driver beats Jarrett Bush for touchdown. Actually not bad coverage by Bush. http://www.packers.com/media-center/...e-f491c27b638d

[Joemailman]

Eric Walden suspended 1 game for last year's domestic altercation on Thanksgiving. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports...rt=newestfirst

[swede]

Eric Walden suspended 1 game for last year's domestic altercation on Thanksgiving. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports...rt=newestfirst

Was Goodell cleaning out his desk and found a copy of the Milwaukee Journal from November 2011?

[RashanGary]

Lawrence Guy played some 1st team ST's. Sounds like he has a shot. Would love it if he showed up this camp. I still think he's probably a year away. Last year would have been his senior season in college. He was out the whole season. This is sort of a rookie year for him. With that tall body type, sometimes you have to be a little more patient. Those guys need to really learn leverage and how to use their hands. McCarthy mentioned him as an improved player. If he's showing upside and showing the ability to hunker down and use his hands, it would be nice to have a surprise like him pop up.

With the two early season suspensions, Guy might buy himself enough time to stick. Especially if there's an injury some time in the first 8 games before Hargrove can play. And if he's a worker, makes big gains next offseason, he has a chance to be a nice part of our rotation.

Lots of ifs, and I do think he's still that developmental type, but he has my interest a little.

[RashanGary]

Brandian Ross and Lawrence guy are two players I see as dark horses.

Gurley seems to think he can dominate with that fade route. We know Finley already does. If he's as good as he thinks he is, having those two guys split wide. . . . It would be real tough to defend deep in the redzone.

[Joemailman]

Lawrence Guy played some 1st team ST's. Sounds like he has a shot. Would love it if he showed up this camp. I still think he's probably a year away. Last year would have been his senior season in college. He was out the whole season. This is sort of a rookie year for him. With that tall body type, sometimes you have to be a little more patient. Those guys need to really learn leverage and how to use their hands. McCarthy mentioned him as an improved player. If he's showing upside and showing the ability to hunker down and use his hands, it would be nice to have a surprise like him pop up.

With the two early season suspensions, Guy might buy himself enough time to stick. Especially if there's an injury some time in the first 8 games before Hargrove can play. And if he's a worker, makes big gains next offseason, he has a chance to be a nice part of our rotation.

Lots of ifs, and I do think he's still that developmental type, but he has my interest a little.

I kind of thought the same thing. By giving him a shot at starting ST, they're trying to find a way to justify a roster spot for a talent who may not be quite ready to have a major impact this year on the defense. Guy is that rarity: A Packer DE who has the normal length of a DE.

[Fritz]

I too am rooting for Guy. I'd hate to see the Pack develop him last year and this spring/summer, then cut him so someone else can benefit. My hope is that he shows enough to warrant keeping on the roster, and if he can continue to improve in the first four weeks, then it'd be nice to have a tough decision to make when Neal returns.

Maybe this team should keep an extra d-lineman this year instead of seventeen tight ends.

[denverYooper]

The Packers should name the dime defense BushWood.

Gambling is illegal at Bushwood sir, and I never slice.