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THURSDAY, Aug. 24, 2006, 4:58 p.m.
Camp Report, Aug. 24
THUMBS UP
Time will tell if safety Marquand Manuel is worth the $10 million the Packers invested in him. Keep in mind that he essentially had been a career backup until he took over for injured starter Ken Hamlin in Game Six of Seattle’s run to the Super Bowl last season. Moreover, Manuel isn’t ranked among the top 20 safeties in the game by Pro Football Weekly, which based its ratings on feedback from NFL personnel people. But Manuel has clearly brought a different tempo and tone to the secondary since he came off the physically unable to perform list and started practicing 11 days ago.
Given an opportunity to get more reps during Manuel’s absence, second-year man Marviel Underwood and rookie Tyrone Culver were two of the biggest surprises of training camp. Underwood has since been lost for the season with a knee injury. But no matter, Manuel appears to play faster and more aggressively. “I was with him when he was a freshman at Florida,†said Bob Sanders, the Packers’ defensive coordinator. “That’s the way he has always been. He’s a tough player.†In practice anyway, Manuel even seems to have a little headhunter in him. He also appears to have naturally taken on the role of a leader. “He’s like a coach on the field,†said third-year cornerback Jason Hunter. “He helps get us lined up. He knows his stuff. He even knows the pre-adjustments.â€Â
THUMBS DOWN
The Packers’ decision to take their chances on unproven kicker Dave Rayner seems to be worth the risk if for no other reason than his leg strength. But Rayner has missed four field goals from 39 yards out over the past two days. In Thursday’s practice, Rayner missed three of nine field goal tries. On all three misses, he was wide left from from 39 yards out. He converted from 24 yards, 30 twice, 39 twice and 44, along with an extra point.
In a league where almost 25% of the games are decided by three points or less, no team can afford an inconsistent kicker.
But before anyone writes Rayner off consider this: He was kicking Thursday in a new environment, Ray Nitschke Field, with a stiff crosswind and without a chance to warm-up and gauge the wind. Also, beside a strong leg, he seems to have a tough hide. He made himself available in the locker room after practice and didn’t flinch at the questions about his bad day. “It’s not like I’m going to be able to hide it,†he said. “There were like 100 some people out there. The coaches were there. I’m not embarrassed by it. The best kickers in the league have bad days.â€Â
A kicker with a stand-up attitude? That part might be worth a Thumbs Up.
INJURY REPORT
Cornerback Mike Hawkins returned to practice. Cornerback Patrick Dendy continued to do some individual drills, but no team work.
Josh Bourke (calf), William Whitticker (hamstring), Najeh Davenport (hip), William Henderson (knee), Kenny Peterson (ankle) and Atari Bigby (hand) continued to miss practice.
ODDS & ENDS
During a special teams period, Jon Ryan averaged 47.6 yards on 14 punts, but still appeared to be inconsistent with his hang time.
Quarterback Brett Favre and wide receiver Donald Driver climaxed a two-minute drill with a 32-yard touchdown on a broken play. Favre started the drive by connecting with rookie wide receiver Greg Jennings for a 30-yard gain. The best defensive play during the drive was a deflected pass by end Aaron Kampman, who had dropped off the line into coverage.
Rookie guard Jason Spitz continues to look the best of the rookie offensive linemen, at least in one-on-one pass blocking. He took one turn against Cullen Jenkins and couldn’t have been sounder.
Culver intercepted a tipped ball in a defensive period. It was his fifth interception of camp.
Over the course of practice, rookie wide receiver Cory Rodgers and veteran Rod Gardner both appeared to need help either getting lined up right or running the right route or both.
ON THIS DAY
Aug. 25, 1980 – The Packers released quarterback Randy Dean almost three weeks to the day after coach and general manager Bart Starr had acquired him from the New York Giants for a sixth-round draft pick. Dean, a former star at Whitefish Bay High School, completed just three of 16 passes in two exhibition appearances. The Packers also settled on Chester Marcol as their kicker by cutting Tom Birney, their kicker in the last six games of the 1979 season.
SCHEDULE FRIDAY
The Packers are scheduled to practice at 10:30 a.m. on Ray Nitschke Field. The practice is open to the public.
Camp Report, Aug. 24
THUMBS UP
Time will tell if safety Marquand Manuel is worth the $10 million the Packers invested in him. Keep in mind that he essentially had been a career backup until he took over for injured starter Ken Hamlin in Game Six of Seattle’s run to the Super Bowl last season. Moreover, Manuel isn’t ranked among the top 20 safeties in the game by Pro Football Weekly, which based its ratings on feedback from NFL personnel people. But Manuel has clearly brought a different tempo and tone to the secondary since he came off the physically unable to perform list and started practicing 11 days ago.
Given an opportunity to get more reps during Manuel’s absence, second-year man Marviel Underwood and rookie Tyrone Culver were two of the biggest surprises of training camp. Underwood has since been lost for the season with a knee injury. But no matter, Manuel appears to play faster and more aggressively. “I was with him when he was a freshman at Florida,†said Bob Sanders, the Packers’ defensive coordinator. “That’s the way he has always been. He’s a tough player.†In practice anyway, Manuel even seems to have a little headhunter in him. He also appears to have naturally taken on the role of a leader. “He’s like a coach on the field,†said third-year cornerback Jason Hunter. “He helps get us lined up. He knows his stuff. He even knows the pre-adjustments.â€Â
THUMBS DOWN
The Packers’ decision to take their chances on unproven kicker Dave Rayner seems to be worth the risk if for no other reason than his leg strength. But Rayner has missed four field goals from 39 yards out over the past two days. In Thursday’s practice, Rayner missed three of nine field goal tries. On all three misses, he was wide left from from 39 yards out. He converted from 24 yards, 30 twice, 39 twice and 44, along with an extra point.
In a league where almost 25% of the games are decided by three points or less, no team can afford an inconsistent kicker.
But before anyone writes Rayner off consider this: He was kicking Thursday in a new environment, Ray Nitschke Field, with a stiff crosswind and without a chance to warm-up and gauge the wind. Also, beside a strong leg, he seems to have a tough hide. He made himself available in the locker room after practice and didn’t flinch at the questions about his bad day. “It’s not like I’m going to be able to hide it,†he said. “There were like 100 some people out there. The coaches were there. I’m not embarrassed by it. The best kickers in the league have bad days.â€Â
A kicker with a stand-up attitude? That part might be worth a Thumbs Up.
INJURY REPORT
Cornerback Mike Hawkins returned to practice. Cornerback Patrick Dendy continued to do some individual drills, but no team work.
Josh Bourke (calf), William Whitticker (hamstring), Najeh Davenport (hip), William Henderson (knee), Kenny Peterson (ankle) and Atari Bigby (hand) continued to miss practice.
ODDS & ENDS
During a special teams period, Jon Ryan averaged 47.6 yards on 14 punts, but still appeared to be inconsistent with his hang time.
Quarterback Brett Favre and wide receiver Donald Driver climaxed a two-minute drill with a 32-yard touchdown on a broken play. Favre started the drive by connecting with rookie wide receiver Greg Jennings for a 30-yard gain. The best defensive play during the drive was a deflected pass by end Aaron Kampman, who had dropped off the line into coverage.
Rookie guard Jason Spitz continues to look the best of the rookie offensive linemen, at least in one-on-one pass blocking. He took one turn against Cullen Jenkins and couldn’t have been sounder.
Culver intercepted a tipped ball in a defensive period. It was his fifth interception of camp.
Over the course of practice, rookie wide receiver Cory Rodgers and veteran Rod Gardner both appeared to need help either getting lined up right or running the right route or both.
ON THIS DAY
Aug. 25, 1980 – The Packers released quarterback Randy Dean almost three weeks to the day after coach and general manager Bart Starr had acquired him from the New York Giants for a sixth-round draft pick. Dean, a former star at Whitefish Bay High School, completed just three of 16 passes in two exhibition appearances. The Packers also settled on Chester Marcol as their kicker by cutting Tom Birney, their kicker in the last six games of the 1979 season.
SCHEDULE FRIDAY
The Packers are scheduled to practice at 10:30 a.m. on Ray Nitschke Field. The practice is open to the public.
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