Official OTA's/Minicamp Thread

[pbmax]

Rollins had groin surgery, too. Did we know that?

Did not know that.

[Patler]

I have real hope that with reasonable health neither Randall nor Rollins will be the players they were last year.

[Fritz]

What's with the groin surgeries? Is the groin the new hammy?

[Teamcheez1]

Even if he's half a step slower than Janis, a little route running makes him pretty dangerous.

Either Janis or Davis will not be on the roster when the season starts.

[Smidgeon]

Either Janis or Davis will not be on the roster when the season starts.

I'm guessing Janis. He was a fan favorite two years ago, but last year he did nothing to retain that title. Haven't heard a peep about his potential or progress. Nor have I heard any updates about his special teams abilities (although I still remember Crosby vouching for Janis's ability to halve a field for a return all by himself).

If he hasn't flashed within the system on called plays by now, then he's not going to. It's special teams or bust, and GB always appears willing to move on from special teams' aces in favor of skill position talent. And right now, there's a lot of WRs on the roster: Nelson, Adams, Cobb, Allison, Davis, Janis, Dupre (R), and Yancey (R). That's 8 starters and recent draft picks. I guess it isn't unprecedented to stash recent draft picks on the practice squad if they don't show much. So I guess it's possible.

[Smidgeon]

Josh Jones is flashing early.

http://www.espn.com/blog/green-bay-packers/post/_/id/38938/packers-should-find-a-place-for-playmaking-rookie-josh-jones

[Patler]

I'm guessing Janis. He was a fan favorite two years ago, but last year he did nothing to retain that title. Haven't heard a peep about his potential or progress. Nor have I heard any updates about his special teams abilities (although I still remember Crosby vouching for Janis's ability to halve a field for a return all by himself).

Crosby was on McCarren's show, and they went over video of kickoff coverage. Crosby just kind of chuckled when they showed a couple clips of Janis coming from a left outside position on kickoffs to the right, running over a couple would-be blockers and getting to the far hash marks at about the 20 yard line before the return man got there. He didn't come anywhere near making the tackle, but the return guy had no choice but to look for something between the sidelines and where Janis was. Crosby laughed and said something like, "That's Jeff! He does that all the time."

We don't get to appreciate those types of things too often.

[Rutnstrut]

Good point Patler. Special teams are under appreciated until they screw up. Janis is not only willing to play ST's, he's pretty damn good at it. He's worth keeping just for that. Besides they are going to want an experienced WR around when the fraud starts dropping passes the first part of the season.

[texaspackerbacker]

It sure seems like Davis was the one who showed very little - and it seems like he got a helluva lot more opportunities than Janis. I really hope they give Janis the reps that arguably he shoulda gotten all along. If that happens, I expect him to shine as a WR in addition to what he does on special teams.

[Patler]

Good point Patler. Special teams are under appreciated until they screw up. Janis is not only willing to play ST's, he's pretty damn good at it. He's worth keeping just for that. Besides they are going to want an experienced WR around when the fraud starts dropping passes the first part of the season.

Not just special teams in general, but the contributions of a player like Janis in the play mentioned, when he didn't come close to actually making the tackle, but forced the runner to turn up field into a half dozen other Packers in a limited area of the field, who easily made the tackle for a very modest return. It's easy to look at the number of ST tackles and wonder how much contribution there is, but a player abusing a couple would be blockers to cut the field width by 2/3 is worth quite a bit even if he doesn't make the tackle.

[MadScientist]

Good point Patler. Special teams are under appreciated until they screw up. Janis is not only willing to play ST's, he's pretty damn good at it. He's worth keeping just for that. Besides they are going to want an experienced WR around when the fraud starts dropping passes the first part of the season.

And we are very good at noticing ST fuck-ups around here. However much experience Janis has, he makes too many mistakes in route running. Other than two hail Mary's on one drive of one game, Janis hasn't done anything to justify keeping him on offense. He is very much the offense's version of Jarrett Bush. With all the receivers, Janis will be hard pressed to make the roster.

[Patler]

And we are very good at noticing ST fuck-ups around here. However much experience Janis has, he makes too many mistakes in route running. Other than two hail Mary's on one drive of one game, Janis hasn't done anything to justify keeping him on offense. He is very much the offense's version of Jarrett Bush. With all the receivers, Janis will be hard pressed to make the roster.

We always thought Bush would be hard pressed to make the roster, too; but he hung around for something like 9 years. Janis won't push anyone for playing time on offense, but I have a feeling that, like Bush for so many years, his spot on the 53 man roster might not be as tenuous as for some above him on the WR depth chart.

[Joemailman]

What's with the groin surgeries? Is the groin the new hammy?

Rollins and Randall work out together in the offseason. I wonder if the Packers training staff might look at what their training regimen consists of. (Unintended joke opportunity here).

[pbmax]

Rollins and Randall work out together in the offseason. I wonder if the Packers training staff might look at what their training regimen consists of. (Unintended joke opportunity here).

Maybe. But Randall (and I think Rollins) got hurt during games, not in the offseason. Bet its the more proximate cause.

[Joemailman]

Maybe. But Randall (and I think Rollins) got hurt during games, not in the offseason. Bet its the more proximate cause.

Not sure what you meant by proximate cause. What I was suggesting is that perhaps their workout regimen doesn't focus enough on maintaining flexibility.