PR Outsider: Training Camp Report PM day 2 (7-29-07)

[MJZiggy]

Here's the evening edition:

—Aaron Rodgers had a couple deep passes down the right sideline and showed good touch all night on his deep ball. He held on to the ball too long on one play but other than that he looked decisive and effective for the whole practice.

—James Jones had a great night. He had at least five short passes thrown his way, and he caught every one. The best play, though, was a deep pass on Antonio Malone where he ran a deep seam down the right sideline and exploded away from Malone, catching a perfectly thrown Rodgers ball...

There's more HERE

[packers11]

Favre to miss three practices
After watching Brett Favre struggle to a four-interception performance in tonight's practice, coach Mike McCarthy said he could tell Favre had a lot on his mind.

"It clearly wasn't his best practice," McCarthy said of Favre, who is expected to fly to Mississippi on Monday after the death of his wife's stepfather. He is scheduled to return Wednesday, meaning he'll miss three practices.

"It's got to be on his heart," McCarthy said. "Family first, and that's where his focus is."

Elsewhere tonight ...

-- In addition to Brett Favre's four interceptions during team drills, Aaron Rodgers threw a pair of picks during 7-on-7. Jarrett Bush got one on a high throw over Calvin Russell, and a few plays later, Will Blackmon ripped the ball from Greg Jennings' hands on a sideline route.

-- Dropping 'em like they're hot: Carlton Brewster (twice), Shaun Bodiford, Brandon Jackson (twice) and Noah Herron.

-- Favre also fumbled on an apparent pass fake during the next-to-last team period.

-- CB Patrick Dendy continued to take all reps as the nickelback with the first unit.

-- P David Lonie's injured left ankle was heavily taped. It's unclear if and when he'll take some camp kicks off Jon Ryan.

-- CB Charles Woodson spoke with McCarthy at length after practice about "a personal thing," according to McCarthy. "I think he'll be fine," McCarthy said.

-- Mostly meaningless passing stats (7-on-7 in parentheses): Favre 20-for-31, 4 INTs (9-for-11); Rodgers 13-for-24, 2 INTs (3-for-10, 2 INTs); Ingle Martin 5-for-10.

-- Practice ended at 8:53 p.m.

-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 9:43 PM | 0 Comments


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Franks works with starters
Tight end Bubba Franks opened each team period with the starting offense tonight -- a new twist in the veteran's battle for position on the depth chart.

Franks, who has spent most of the offseason behind Donald Lee, was the lone tight end in a three-wide look on the first team play of practice with the No. 1 offense. When the unit took the field for the second team period, he was the lone tight end in a two-back set. He also joined Lee in several double-tight sets on the first plays of other periods.

The Packers finished practice with only three tight ends after Zac Alcorn dropped out, apparently because of cramps. Tory Humphrey, who broke his ankle Saturday, likely is out for the season.

-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 9:39 PM | 0 Comments


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Hodge day to day with knee injury
Linebacker Abdul Hodge is day to day because of a recurring knee injury and likely will be limited to one practice a day when he returns, coach Mike McCarthy said after tonight's practice.

Trainers iced Hodge's problematic knee during practice Saturday, and the second-year pro from Iowa couldn't finish today's morning session. He watched tonight's practice in shorts on the sideline.

-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 9:32 PM | 0 Comments


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Rookie receiver catching on
During back-to-back drills -- the first a team drill and the second a blitz drill -- rookie receiver James Jones caught four passes, including beating nickelback Patrick Dendy on a deep in-route.
-- Pete Dougherty/pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 8:45 PM | 0 Comments


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Jackson takes lumps
For the second day in a row, halfback Brandon Jackson got steamrolled during a team blitz drill. On Saturday, A.J. Hawk ran over Jackson on one play. On Sunday night, middle linebacker Nick Barnett did the same.
-- Pete Dougherty/pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 8:44 PM | 0 Comments


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Harrell beats rookie guard in one-on-one drills
Rookie first-round draft pick Justin Harrell finally won a rep during one-on-one pass-rushing drills. On consecutive snaps, Harrell guard Pat Murray, an undrafted rookie who has not had a lot of success on that drill.
-- Rob Demovsky/rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 8:37 PM | 0 Comments


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Rayner holds kicking edge
Notes from practice:
-- Dave Rayner held the upper hand over rookie Mason Crosby in a kicking drill. Rayner booted 6 of 6 field goals while Crosby made 5 of 6. Ruvell Martin was the holder for all of Rayner's kicks, while Jon Ryan held for Crosby. Rayner's successful kicks came from 25, 25, 30, 33, 38 and 43 yards. Crosby made good on kicks from 25 and 25 before missing wide right from 30 yards. He then booted three successful kicks from 33, 38 and 43, although the last one was kicked above the right upright and was barely good.

-- Will Blackmon made a spectacular interception of an Aaron Rodgers pass when he stole the ball out of receiver Greg Jennnigs' hands. It was the second interception of the night for Rodgers, who was also picked off by cornerback Jarrett Bush.
-- Mike Vandermause/mvandermause@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 8:19 PM | 0 Comments


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Malone picks Favre twice ... Malone?
Veteran quarterback Brett Favre and rookie free agent cornerback Antonio Malone have very little in common. But the two had a lot in common on three on consecutive plays druing a team drill. On the first play, Malone intercepted a Favre pass intended for Robert Ferguson. On the next play, Favre beat Malone on a deep pass to James Jones. But Malone won the rubber match on the next play by intercepting a badly underthrown Favre pass. Final score, Malone 2, Favre 1.
-- Mike Vandermause/mvandermause@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 8:00 PM | 0 Comments


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Woodson makes nice pick; Harrell, Franks move up
Some observations during team drills:
-- Cornerback Charles Woodson made a nice diving interception of a Brett Favre pass intended for Greg Jennings. Favre was working out of the shotgun formation and was under heavy blitz pressure.
-- First-round draft pick Justin Harrell moved up to the second-team defense. Harrell played on the No. 3 unit on Saturday.
-- Tight end Bubba Franks lined up with the No. 1 offense during team drills. Franks had been working behind Donald Lee in prior practices.
-- During a punt-return drill, receiving kicks were:Woodson, Will Blackmon, James Jones, Jennings and Shaun Bodiford.
- Mike Vandermause, mvandermause@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 7:36 PM | 0 Comments


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Role reversal
In one of the more unique drills in training camp thus far, a Packers lineman was given the ball, and two smaller players -- usually wide receivers and/or running backs -- converged to strip the ball away. Presumably, if an opposing lineman ever gets his paws on a ball in a game situation, the Packers will be prepared to force a turnover.
- Mike Vandermause, mvandermause@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 7:33 PM | 0 Comments

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[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I hope we blitz more this season then we did last year. I think we have the LB's and the corners for it. However, hopefully they learned from Slowik and realized that blitzing crazy doesn’t work either.

[wist43]

If Franks is the starter at TE, then we basically have no TE...

It doesn't bode well if Jackson can't hold up in pass protection... getting run over by Barnett is??? Barnett may is fast and athletic, but he's about as physcial and tough as a cheerleader... It would appear that Jackson has a long way to go on blitz pickup. If he can't block, it will dramatically affect his PT.

[The Leaper]

It would appear that Jackson has a long way to go on blitz pickup. If he can't block, it will dramatically affect his PT.

Few rookie RBs have any idea what pass blocking is. As I've pointed out elsewhere, this is the primary reason why I am far more confident about Morency taking the majority of the snaps. Experience means a lot in the NFL, and that is precisely why Thompson feels better about this team as it moves forward. The guys entering their 2nd and 3rd years are likely to take some major steps forward.

We still need a couple more offensive playmakers though. Elite talent also means a lot in the NFL.

[CaliforniaCheez]

Silverstien praised Malone for Saturday's practice.

He sounds like the suprise of camp so far.

I hope all the negativity about the offseason will disappear as we see Jones and Jackson improving.

[BallHawk]

I've heard nothing but good about James Jones so far.

[Tarlam!]

... getting run over by Barnett is??? Barnett may is fast and athletic, but he's about as physcial and tough as a cheerleader...

I don't care who you, if your name isn't Barnett, you gotta have stiches in your side after this quip! Hysterical Wisty...

[Joemailman]

I've heard nothing but good about James Jones so far.

I've been thinking the same thing. Seems TT may be particularly good at spotting WR talent.

[the_idle_threat]

***Insert obligatory Javon Walker comment from an anti-TT troll here***

[Bretsky]

***Insert obligatory Javon Walker comment from an anti-TT troll here***

Nobody said he's good at keeping offensive playmakers
He's just good at spotting them

[Cheesehead Craig]

***Insert obligatory Javon Walker comment from an anti-TT troll here***

Nobody said he's good at keeping offensive playmakers
He's just good at spotting them

Ah hell, I can spot playmakers at WR

Look, there's Chad Johnson!

Over there! It's Marvin Harrison!