MINICAMP notes...

[swede]

In looking at some of the photos I was impressed with Colledge's new pipes. He was such a rangy-looking kid I wasn't sure he would get bigger.

There was a pic of Harrel that shows a decent lower body build. If he can add strength and bulk to that upper body he might get to 330 lbs of muscle. Harrel's build looks a lot like Gilbert's did back in college when the "Gravedigger" weighed a petite sub-300.

[wist43]

It's too bad Underwood is slow to recover... I had him penciled in as the starter at safety. He's definitely losing ground to the other guys.

[BallHawk]

It's too bad Underwood is slow to recover... I had him penciled in as the starter at safety. He's definitely losing ground to the other guys.

I agree. I really like the guy, but he's falling behind. I'd like to see what Culver can do.

[Joemailman]

I think Pickett had weight problems at St. Louis, but didn't have a problem last year. I won't be concerned unless he shows up at training camp overweight. I too would expect Martin to win the #3 WR position initially, but look for Jones to assert himself more as the season goes on. Miree will likely be the starting FB, but needs to show he can catch the ball consistently to keep the job.

[BallHawk]

Harrel's build looks a lot like Gilbert's did back in college when the "Gravedigger" weighed a petite sub-300.

Petite and Gilbert Brown; two subjects I thought I would never hear mentioned in one sentence together.

[Fritz]

What happened to the sixth-round linebacker dude from Boise that they drafted to play FB? No mention of him, yet they mentioned some other free agent rook.

Jerry Babbs will be selling insurance in his hometown in about a month.

I'm in with the Holliday over Martin group. I see James Jones emerging next year.

I hope Poppinga has worked on his pass coverage skills.

Robert Ferguson is like a tulip. He blooms every spring, then quickly fades and withers.

[HarveyWallbangers]

What happened to the sixth-round linebacker dude from Boise that they drafted to play FB? No mention of him, yet they mentioned some other free agent rook.

Hall was drafted mainly as a special teams ace, and you can't judge those guys with no pads on. I think they hope he is that, but can also play FB well enough not to waste a roster spot on a special teams guy only.

[packrulz]

Thanks for posting that, Rulz. All of it is encouraging infromation except the Ryan Pickett part. The Packers cannot afford him to turn into another Cletius Hunt.

I really think Brandon Miree can be a solid starting FB. I also think Ruvell Martin will get the #3 WR. Lastly, I think Rouse will win the opposite starting safety job.

Yea, I wasn't too happy to read that Pickett was overweight, but last year he kept his weight in check. I think his effort has been good though, I think he can lose 15-20lbs by opening day, he's not lazy like Hunt, and he did show up. Good turnout this year. Not much info on who's going to return punts and kicks, I wonder why not? The special teams sucked last year.

"Special teams

The Packers didn't do any placekicking or punting in minicamp, so the showdown at kicker between returnee Dave Rayner and sixth-round draft pick Mason Crosby probably won't heat up until training camp."

[swede]

The Packers think Dendy has benefited from their offseason program as much as anyone in the secondary.

Wow!

[TopHat]

MINICAMP ROUNDUP

http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/story/2007/5/21/21345/2590

Minicamp Roundup

There are a ton of articles about minicamp posted at jsonline.com. First is about the starting defensive tackle battle between DTs Corey Williams and 1st round pick Justin Harrell. It's good to read that Williams is motivated to beat out Harrell for the starting spot opposite DT Ryan Pickett, but it really doesn't matter. It's a matter of pride for whichever is named the starter, but all three tackles will probably receive about the same amount of playing time. Even if Williams is not named the starter, he might still play more than Pickett or Harrell because he has the size to play on run downs and is the best pass rusher of the three.
It might be an interesting changing of the guard that TE Donald Lee is starting ahead of TE Bubba Franks so far, but Lee only managed 10 catches in 2006 and isn't someone to get excited about. Lee was really promising in 2005 but he was invisible for most of 2006. It would be hard to believe he has somehow come out of nowhere since last season to beat out Franks.
It is amazing that WR Robert Ferguson is still on the roster. Mike Sherman signed Ferguson to a relatively cheap contract a couple years ago and it hasn't been necessary to release him since the Packers have had a good amount of salary cap room. On any team with any salary cap issues, Ferguson would have been long gone. The article says he has put on weight and it's likely he has lost some speed with the extra size. He has rarely shown any ability to play well in between the hash marks, so if he loses his deep speed along the sideline, then he's got nothing left. He needs to stay healthy, but he also needs to show some promise, which he hasn't shown in the last couple of seasons.
CB Will Blackmon had a great offseason. That's good news, but it doesn't really say anything. Right now its CBs Al Harris and Charles Woodson as the starters, CB Patrick Dendy in as the nickel cornerback [SERIOUSLY!], and that's pretty good. At the end of the season S Tyrone Culver came in as the sixth defensive back, but Blackmon and free agent CB Frank Walker probably have a good chance to play instead. Blackmon was a 4th round pick in 2006 so there is some expectation that he will earn some playing time in his 2nd NFL season or he might become in danger of losing his spot on the roster. He shouldn't be a big part of the defense in 2007, but he is probably the next best option if any of the top 3 cornerbacks are hurt.
And RB Vernand Morency is setting the pace! The article says Morency received slightly more time than RBs P.J. Pope and Noah Herron who are the only other running backs that aren't hurt or stuck on a promotional gig. Morency should be the number one back at this point, but this minicamp would have been a lot more interesting if 2nd round pick RB Brandon Jackson hadn't been doing endorsements in L.A. and was actually battling Morency for snaps. Unless Jackson really dazzles in the preseason, it would be a shock if Morency lost the starting job. It might be similar to the situation in Indianapolis last season, when RB Dominic Rhodes started most of the season and rookie RB Joseph Addai slowly picked away at Rhodes' playing time until Addai eventually played more than Rhodes. Morency might begin the season as the starting RB, but it seems likely that Jackson will eventually take the job away from him.

[Joemailman]

What happened to the sixth-round linebacker dude from Boise that they drafted to play FB? No mention of him, yet they mentioned some other free agent rook.

Hall was drafted mainly as a special teams ace, and you can't judge those guys with no pads on. I think they hope he is that, but can also play FB well enough not to waste a roster spot on a special teams guy only.

I would expect Hall to be a bit behind at this point considering he's making a major position shift. If he shows he can catch the ball out of the backfield, and stop a blitzing LB, he'll be fine.

[packrulz]

Thanks for the article TopHat. Fergy has gained weight but from what I've read it's in muscle, not fat, and I don't think it will slow him down that much. I get the impression the coaching staff thinks it's good, and if Fergy can stay healthy for a whole season I think he will suprise some fans. I think he could take the 3rd WR spot and possibly return punts, prople are down on him but that's because he plays hurt and they don't realize that.

[TopHat]

MINICAMP SUMMARY: WSJ PERSPECTIVE

NOTE: COMPARE TO PACKERSNEWS.COM AND ROUNDUP ARTICLES.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/sports/index.php?ntid=135393

Packers: Minicamp puts team in prime position

After a week of drama surrounding quarterback Brett Favre, an offseason of inaction in the free agent market and a draft that was widely panned by so-called experts and fans, the Green Bay Packers got exactly what they needed during their full-squad mandatory minicamp, which ended Sunday. Actual football. While the four practices inside the Don Hutson Center were hardly a predictor of how they'll fare in coach Mike McCarthy's second year, the three-day camp did provide a jumping-off point for the 2007 season, as the coaches reviewed the ups and downs of last year's 8-8 finish, took those lessons to the practice field and installed the first two of the nine-part offensive and defensive playbooks.
And although it did mark the only time the full squad will be together until training camp opens in late July, McCarthy cautioned no lasting decisions were to be made from what went on. "No jobs were won or lost this weekend. Opportunity is abundant throughout our football team, and that'll all be answered in time," McCarthy said Sunday afternoon, following the final practice. "These sessions are very important - if they weren't, we wouldn't have them - but we're in the learning phase, we're in the phase where we're just trying to put things together. What really counts is when we put the pads on in training camp."
Here's a position-by-position look at the Packers coming out of their only mandatory offseason session and heading into their voluntary organized team activity practices, which kick off May 31:
Quarterback. Favre and backup Aaron Rodgers were held out of 11-on-11 sessions throughout the camp, giving third-stringer Ingle Martin most of the snaps in team periods. While Martin was inconsistent, he did have some encouraging moments, and undrafted rookie free agents Jerry Babb and Paul Thompson will have to come a long, long way during the OTAs to challenge Martin for the No. 3 job in training camp. McCarthy said Favre will take part in nine of the 12 OTA practices, while Rodgers said he should be cleared for team drills after the first week of OTAs. Rodgers said the OTAs and training camp are another opportunity for him to show his younger teammates he is capable of taking over when Favre walks away. "Brett's looking good. He's going to be in great shape by the time the season rolls around," Rodgers said. "I've always had confidence in myself, and I think this team is starting to have confidence in me. It's just a matter of being consistent - every day, every practice - and showing these guys that we're going to be in good hands if I get to be the starter."
Running back. Perhaps the most important competition on the roster following the free agent departure of starter Ahman Green, the halfback job is clearly Vernand Morency's to lose, if only because three of the top competitors - draft picks Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, and 2006 training camp surprise Arliss Beach - weren't involved. Jackson missed the camp because of a scheduling conflict with an NFL sponsorship event, while Wynn suffered a calf strain during the rookie orientation camp May 4 to 6 and Beach, who missed all of last season with a right ankle injury, was out with turf toe in his left foot. Morency worked with the No. 1 offense ahead of Noah Herron and P.J. Pope, but Morency's challenge during camp will be to prove he can be a workhorse back. If he can't carry the load, McCarthy has said he'll take the halfback-by-committee approach. Herron still looks like the best third-down back. "I don't know enough about 'Mo' to sit here and tell you he can't carry the ball 20 times a game," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "In the NFL, there's quite a few examples of two running backs getting a good bit of time of sharing the ball. We'll just have to see how it plays out."
At fullback, Brandon Miree worked with the No. 1s following the offseason release of veteran William Henderson, while rookies Corey White, Ryan Powdrell and Korey Hall were behind Miree. White also took snaps at halfback.
Wide receiver. For as much talk there was this offseason about the receiver the Packers don't have - now-New England Patriot Randy Moss - there'll be plenty of competition at the position come training camp. While two-time Pro Bowl receiver Donald Driver and a now-healthy Greg Jennings will be the starters, the battle for the three or four roster spots behind them figures to be fierce. Holdovers Ruvell Martin, Chris Francies, Calvin Russell and Carlyle Holiday will compete with Robert Ferguson and Shaun Bodiford, both of whom are coming off season-ending injuries, as well as rookie draft picks James Jones (third round) and David Clowney (fifth round). "There's a lot of talent at every (receiver) position," Rodgers said. "I think we've got the weapons we need. I think we're going to be pretty formidable on offense." Jennings, who caught 21 passes for 378 yards and three TDs in the first six games as a rookie but 24 passes for 254 yards and no TDs the rest of the year, clearly has regained his burst. "Man, I do feel good. I feel like I'm back," Jennings said. "I'm not concerned with the ankle, I'm not thinking about anything, I'm just out there being the old me. That definitely feels good." •
Tight end. The position is wide open, as former starter Bubba Franks must re-earn his spot after a horrendous 2006 season. Donald Lee, who caught 10 passes for 150 yards last year, worked ahead of Franks with the first team throughout the camp. Behind them, holdovers Tory Humphrey and Zac Alcorn will compete with rookie seventh-round pick Clark Harris for the No. 3 job, although if the team deems Franks expendable by the end of training camp, one of these three would have to take on a major role. Alcorn missed the last two days with a bruised knee. "We are adjusting some things as we move forward with the tight end position, and I think we have excellent competition," McCarthy said. "But Bubba Franks is a veteran football player, and we're expecting him to contribute to our football team."
Offensive line. Starting right guard Jason Spitz strained his back early in the first practice so Junius Coston filled in with the front five, lining up with left tackle Chad Clifton, left guard Daryn Colledge, center Scott Wells and right tackle Mark Tauscher. McCarthy said the coaches want their young linemen to settle into one position, which is why Tony Moll worked as the No. 2 right tackle behind Tauscher rather than moving into right guard, where he started five games last year. Kevin Barry, who suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon almost exactly a year ago in minicamp, was withheld from the camp but said he hopes to take part in the OTAs. Barry said the coaches plan to work him at right guard and right tackle. Rookie fourth-round pick Allen Barbre, who played left tackle in college, spent the camp at left guard behind Colledge. When Clifton missed the Saturday morning practice, Josh Bourke and Orrin Thompson filled in. "When we first got together in February (2006), there was a lot of holes on that depth chart. There was nobody there," McCarthy said of the line. "I think we have a very, very bright future starting this year with the offensive line."
Defensive line. Defensive tackle Corey Williams admitted Sunday he was more than a little surprised when the team took fellow DT Justin Harrell with the 16th overall pick in last month's draft. But Williams, who started 11 games at that spot last year alongside Ryan Pickett and had a career-high seven sacks, remains an ascending player and worked with the No. 1 unit for most of camp. Harrell was held out of all 11-on-11 work while he is in the final stages of rehabbing the ruptured biceps tendon that cut short his senior year at Tennessee. Harrell said he thought he was going to be "full go" but he was limited to drill work and hitting the tackling bags. "They drafted me No. 1, and I want to come in here and prove myself to the guys. And you can't do that when you're not participating all the way," Harrell said. "I'm just following doctor's orders. When they release me, I'm going to go out and try my best." Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman probably won't practice until training camp after an April knee scope, while demoted end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila suffered a bruised thigh Friday and sat out the rest of the camp. Johnny Jolly, a 2006 sixth-round pick in the mix inside, missed Sunday's practice because of what McCarthy termed a "personal emergency."
Linebackers. While the team has plenty of question marks, this isn't one of them. The starting threesome of Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk and Brady Poppinga is the most solidified of any position on the roster, with the only competition as of now being for backup spots. "I think A.J. Hawk is a prime-time player in the National Football League. I think that'll be proven as he moves forward," McCarthy said after Hawk picked off a Favre pass down the middle during 7-on-7 Sunday. "You can see his comfort in our scheme. I think Nick Barnett is a frontline player, too, and Brady Poppinga may be the most improved of the whole (defensive) group. "That group has a lot of competition in the backup area, but those first three I've been very impressed with."
Defensive backs. With starting cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson missing the final two practices - Harris after feeling back tightness Saturday morning; Woodson after being excused by McCarthy to attend a Saturday night "event" - Patrick Dendy and Will Blackmon worked with the first team. Blackmon is coming off a rookie season derailed by foot and rib injuries but figures to be prominent in the battle for the nickel and dime cornerback spots, along with Dendy, Jarrett Bush, Tramon Williams and Frank Walker, the team's only free agent signing. "I am very happy with the progress Bush has made, (as well as) Blackmon. And Patrick Dendy has had an excellent weekend," McCarthy said. "There's lot of competition."At safety, veteran Marquand Manuel remains a starter despite a disappointing first season in Green Bay. Asked to assess his play last season and whether he expects to keep his starting job, Manuel repeatedly replied, "Ask the coaches, man. Ask the coaches."
Special teams. Kicker Dave Rayner and punter Jon Ryan expected the team to bring in competition, and they got it - Rayner in sixth-round pick Mason Crosby, and Ryan in free agent David Lonie.The return game is wide open as Morency (kickoffs) and Woodson (punts) could be replaced by non-starters such as Bodiford, Blackmon, Jones and others."It's competition," special teams coordinator Mike Stock said. "I don't ever say it's anybody's job to lose. They'll compete."

[Bretsky]

Thanks for the article TopHat. Fergy has gained weight but from what I've read it's in muscle, not fat, and I don't think it will slow him down that much. I get the impression the coaching staff thinks it's good, and if Fergy can stay healthy for a whole season I think he will suprise some fans. I think he could take the 3rd WR spot and possibly return punts, prople are down on him but that's because he plays hurt and they don't realize that.

This guy always shows up looking good but it's the same thing year after year after year after year after year(I think I'm short one year, but you get the jist.

People are down on him for two reasons

1. He doesn't produce
2. He's always hurt

If he looks good in camp I hope he gets traded for an Egg McMuffin. Get Ted some nutrition to call up a free agent

[retailguy]

If he looks good in camp I hope he gets traded for an Egg McMuffin. Get Ted some nutrition to call up a free agent

If this happens, I might have to reexamine my opinion of Trader Ted wanting to win in 2007. That'd be the best trade deal yet in 2007! :P