There are benchmark days in every training camp once players report. In reverse order it’s cut day, the first pre-season game and the day the pads go on. Today, the Green Bay Packers got all dressed up for the first time since they undressed after the NFC Divisional Playoff loss at Lambeau to San Francisco last July.
Even from the balcony perch where 97.3 The Game, the Packers new Radio Network flagship is broadcasting all week at the KI Center, the vibe was noticeably different from the first half dozen camp workouts.
Tim Scott (L) and Brian Butch on the air as Tuesday’s practice is about to begin.
Before practice, Head Coach Matt LaFleur said while the gear is on for the first time, the evaluation emphasis hasn’t changed, he wants the best from every snap. Sure, there’s more collisions among lineman and linebackers thumping ball carriers but it’s still a far cry from full speed contact and game-like tackling:
Rookie free agent center Cole Schneider was the player who got hurt on just a shoulder pads only day Monday. Marcedes Lewis got a veterans day off and Jaire Alexander took part in early individual drills before taking a powder that wasn’t injury related. There were no other changes to the rehab group.
There were a pair of one of one drills early in practice. Wide receivers went up against the defensive backs on one end of Nitschke Field, the pass rushing drill with offensive and defensive linemen on the other end.
On the first WR/CB snap, Romeo Doubs ran a hard in route and Eric Stokes closed fast, getting a piece of Doubs’ shoulder with an aggressive pass break up. Receivers win more often than not, knowing where they’re going and when the ball’s arriving. Some DB’s had break ups but Doubs would file that first snap away until the last snap of the drill. Matched up against with Stokes, Romeo ran a clean go route up the sideline, got separation and pulled down the well thrown bomb from Aaron Rodgers.
Over by the big boys, the linemen were going hard. It was back to back reps for each pass rusher and lineman. Yosh Nijman and Cole Van Lanen each had quality reps, Jake Hanson got the better of Jarran Reed on consecutive snaps. The biggest cheer from the defenders came after free agent Chris Slayton put on a lightning quick spin move on center Ty Clary and was on the quarterback in a hiccup.
Once the team drills began, the D line consistently collapsed or crumbled pockets. Rodgers, Jordan Love and Danny Etling all had to extend plays at times because of the lack of time. Love had another pretty deep ball and the competition really picked up during a red zone period. The first team offense produced a gaping hole on an A.J. Dillon draw play and Sammy Watkins went high to pull down a Rodgers pass.
The breeze was up and with live gunners charging downfield, the punt returners struggled just to field the ball. A jugs machine launched high spirals and Doubs misjudged one that got behind him and later he had one glance off his fingertips in traffic. Amari Rodgers and Ishmael Hyman flat out muffed chances and when Doubs cleanly fielded the last one, the crowd applauded.
Despite being the only kicker going, Oklahoma rookie free agent Gabe Brkic has handled himself well. Mason Crosby is still on the PUP list so Brkic is doing all the field goal work. He’s shown a solid leg and to keep from overswinging in camp, is getting field goal team reps every other day.
Love capped one of his better days of camp in the final red zone period. He threw a pinpoint ball to the right corner of the end zone and guess who pulled it down? Where are thou Romeo? It was Doubs again making a leaping grab with Stokes in great coverage position. Romeo has been loathe to do any celebrating after what seems like a daily big play catch but he couldn’t resist this time. He delivered an emphatic spike followed by a leaping chest bump from fellow rookie Christian Watson. While Watson was all smiles, you start to wonder if he recognizes how fast he’s falling behind Doubs and the rest of the receivers after sitting out since the start of camp.
Since it was just a “thud” day, practice ended with one. Amari Rodgers, who continues to impress, caught a ball in the flat but linebacker Ray Wilborn closed fast and delivered an audible “thump” without wrapping up, just what the coaches want as the hitting begins.
Wednesday’s practice will be closed to the public as the team conducts another brief walk and jog-through. The hitting resumes on Thursday at 10:30 AM.
