Packers Practice Roundup: August 17, 2022. The Scrimmage, Part Two
Jordan Loves puts together a complete day. The defenses for the Packers and Saints still had good days into today's scrimmage.
GENERAL/PERSONNEL:
Rico Gafford isn’t practicing today. Hodkiewicz
If Davis can’t go Friday I wonder if GB will add another WR before the game. Could be just Toure, Winfree, Doubs, Hyman, and Amari. Herman [And just 2 hours ago, I see "The Packers have claimed WR Travis Fulgham off of waivers, per Field Yates through a retweet by Zachory Jacobson. TGR]
LaFleur said that OLB Rashan Gary will practice today and that his injury wasn't anything serious. 2) The Packers have released WR Malik Taylor. Silverstein [And Gary had himself another fine day. TGR]
Vet rest day for Marcedes Lewis today. Schneidman
QUARTERBACK/WIDE RECEIVERS:
Love: And Love hits the throw for the 2 point conversion and the win. No question about this one - Jordan Love the clear player of the day. He was fantastic in red zone and 2 minute. 2) [Two minute drill]: Love to Mack outside. Complete and gets out of bounds. Love to Amari over the middle for a big pickup. Timeout. Ball at midfield - 56 secs left. Have a day Jordan Love. Deep ball to Toure touchdown. Beyond awesome pass. 3) Love probably would have been sacked but buys time and throws incomplete to Amari. Love to Doubs for a touchdown on a quick out. Love was extremely sharp in red zone drills. 4) Love with a great ball to Winfree for a touchdown in red zone. Winfree won clean on the route. Love to a sliding Toure in red zone for a touchdown. Nice job by Love of stepping up in the pocket. [Again, in the red zone drill. TGR] Herman
Amari Rodgers caught 19-yard pass over middle to set up Jordan Love’s TD pass one play earlier. Samori Toure finished the drive. Romeo Doubs had a pair of catches with the starting offense in 2-minute. Aaron Rodgers called out his young WRs yesterday. They responded today. 2) offense, needing a TD, held on 4th & 10 from the 24 — but it’s a win. Romeo Doubs had 2 catches for 18 yards from Aaron Rodgers on the drive. That’ll earn the trust. 3) Matt LaFelur on Romeo Doubs: "He did a great job at the line of scrimmage yesterday beating press coverage. That's a salty defense." He wants to see Doubs' hands be more consistent than the past week. "When you get behind the defense, you've got to finish the play." Wood [Maybe so. TGR]
That looked like Jordan Love’s best day of camp to me. Schneidman
AR: [#1s 2 min. drill] Rodgers steps up in the pocket - hits Watkins for a good gain - clock ticks. Spike - 20 seconds left. Ball batted down at the line incomplete. Rodgers and Watkins not on same page. Should have been picked. Saints dropped an easy one. 4th down coming up - 13 secs left. 2) Packers number one offense with same two minute drill: Rodgers to Doubs over the middle. Clock ticks. Checkdown to Dillon - clock ticks - timeout. Gb to their own 40 - 44 seconds left. Rodgers to Doubs quick screen good pickup out of bounds. 3) Dillon run right - notta. Rodgers low and incomplete over the middle to Deguara. He’s been uncharacteristically off today. Slot blitz catches GB off guard again - Rodgers throws right of Doubs incomplete. 4) Dillon middle run - short gain. Slot blitz all over Rodgers. Sack. Rodgers overthrows Watkins deep. Tough angle but Watkins looked like he had a half step. Smoke screen to Winfree - saints all over it. 5) Rodgers to Winfree for a sliding touchdown on a rollout. 6) Rodgers sacked in red zone. Give the Saints’ coverage credit. Cameron Jordan gets around Newman, Rodgers steps up right, throws low and right for Davis who dives but can’t come up with it. Rodgers slant to Cobb broken up. 7) Rodgers back shoulder in red zone to Watkins who made a fantastic catch through contact at the goaline for a touchdown. 8) Marcus Maye picks off Rodgers on a deep post to Doubs. Ball hung up and no real separation. Good defense. Herman
Rodgers throws deep to Romeo Doubs and ball is picked off. Rodgers not happy and shows Doubs he wanted route more to the post. Ball was either under thrown or Doubs was really out of position. Maybe both. 2) LaFleur said that rookie WR Romeo Doubs got off the line of scrimmage really well against press coverage yesterday. Silverstein
Juwann Winfree and Samori Toure both had huge days and came up with multiple touchdown catches. They could both be fighting each other for one spot on the roster, but both looked like 53-man roster players on Wednesday. Herman, from this article.
RUNNING BACKS:
Goodson with an explosive run inside against the 2s. Love quick throw outside to Hyman for a short pickup. Love to Mack over the middle, 7-8 yards ish. Herman
TIGHT ENDS:
Play of the day on offense - Rodgers finds Josiah Deguara deep middle over Demario Davis. Great separation by Deguara and a dime by 12. 2) Tyler Davis with his second false start of practice. This time on the punt team (first was on offense). [A guy I thought was a lock keeps having issues in camp. TGR] Herman
OFFENSIVE LINE:
Coach Matt LaFleur says he counted seven procedural penalties on offense yesterday. That was a point of emphasis after practice: "Those are silly penalties that can't happen." Wood [Not all on the OL, but many of them were. TGR]
Caleb Jones at RT with the 2s today. CVL - Tom - Menet - Rhyan - Jones. 2) Another day of Nijman - JRJ - Myers - Hanson - Newman Rodgers, Lazard, Davis, Jones, Watkins, Deguara the other starters. [The ones] Herman
Packers first period on offense: No complete passes 1 interception 1 false start 2 nice Dillon runs 1 solid Taylor run About 12 runs stuffed at or behind the LOS. [This is with the 1s. TGR] 2) Zach Tom now in with the ones at RT. Newman at RT. Two straight runs to that side of the line go absolutely nowhere. Packers offense missing Marcedes in run blocking today (vet rest day). [RT in their twice, IDK. TGR] 3) The Packers really struggled to run right behind Jake Hanson, Royce Newman, Zach Tom, and Tyler Davis. There were multiple runs that resulted in no gain or that went for a loss. The offensive line looked really good in pass protection over two days against the Saints, but really struggled to get any movement in the run game. 4) Another nice run by Dillon this time off left side. It’s been two nice runs by Dillon and nothing else has worked at all. Patrick Taylor with a nice little run off a block by Caleb Jones. Taylor finished with a nice stiff arm. Patrick Taylor stuffed off right tackle. [All one tweet so I assume Caleb Jones was the RT on these three runs. TGR] 5) Jones run behind Hanson/Newman - nothing doing. Herman
I've only seen a few plays, but I'm already confident Newman at RG and Tom at RT is much better than Hanson at RG and Newman at RT. Jersey Al [on August 12th, but you know how it is: late better than never. TGR]
DEFENSIVE LINE:
Packers number two defense stops the Saints number two offense. Defensive front was swarming again. 2) Jarran Reed with another pressure. Saints get a completion for first down. (Short) Rashan Gary would be sack. Dalton throws it away. Olave with separation from Jaire for a big gain out of bounds. That rookie can play. 3) First Saints red-zone rep, Packers sack [I guess Andy didn't see by whom. TGR]. Second red-zone rep, Kenny Clark sack and Adrian Amos pick. Herman
As soon as I’m done typing that, TJ Slaton sacks Ian Book. Defense is nasty. Wood
LINEBACKERS:
Enagbare shoves the left tackle right back into the QB. That 5th rnd pick is showing out lately. And Enagbare with a rip move looks like it drew a hold. My lord. Herman
Defensive line depth is well documented, but Krys Barnes showing they have depth at ILB too. Barnes already has a TFL, PBU and sack today. Wood
Saints having problems with GB’s ILB blitzes. Barnes just had a free shot at Book off the edge. Hodkiewicz
NO #1 2 min drill] Dalton incomplete Over the middle. 20 seconds left. Dalton incomplete again. Looked like Quay was in coverage. Sack by packers defense. Timeout saints. Looked like Tipa. 11 seconds left. Herman
Kobe Jones had made some plays, just backed the fullback into [NO QB] Book. 2) Barnes shoots through for TFL of Tony Jones. 3) Tipa sack of Book. Defense doing defense things again. Hodkiewicz
Enagbare has made the roster in four days. He is red hot. Huber
Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Jonathan Garvin and Kobe Jones are probably your five edge rushers. I don’t think the Packers keep more than that — four is even possible — so Tipa Galeai and La’Darius Hamilton may get pushed out. Zach Jacobson
DEFENSIVE BACKS:
CB Eric Stokes said Jarvis Landry "tried to big boy" him after whistle, "and I wasn't going for that." Hence, the fight. 2) Chris Olave is having himself a day. Just beat Jaire Alexander on a deep out route in 2-minute drill. 3) Saints rookie Chris Olave makes a splash, beating Rasul Douglas deep down the left sideline and making a terrific catch over his shoulder from Andy Dalton. That’s the one question for Douglas, whether he can stay with the quicker receivers in slot. 4) Deonte Harty runs the same route deep down the right side vs. Keisean Nixon, and this time he’s blanketed. Good coverage from Nixon. 5) Saints WR Deonte Harty gets behind CB Kiondre Thomas, but Ian Book misses him deep down the right sideline. Wood
Dalton hits Olave with a nice over the shoulder pass. Douglas had good coverage. Just tucked it in. Hodkiewicz [Same as 3 for Ryan Wood above. Just a little different take on the play. TGR]
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kiondre Thomas draws an illegal block in the back penalty as gunner. 2)Christian Watson back fielding punts. That’s new. Herman
rookie Christian Watson is getting line return reps, joining fellow rookie Romeo Doubs and second-year WR Amari Rodgers. Wood
Photo courtesy of William Glashee of USA Today
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Comments (48)
Thegreatreynoldo
August 17, 2022 at 06:45 pm
No doubt in my mind about using a photo of Jordan Love. I usually don't highlight players who are locks to make the team unless they are young and unproven (I could just post a photo of Rashan Gary every time), but this is an important step for Love - he had a complete day with lots of highs and nothing really that is a low.
Zach Jacobson's take that Kobe Jones could be the 5th OLB is not far-fetched. Hamilton, Garvin and Gileai haven't taken the bull by the horns. I think as a fifth rounder, Enagbare had the team made barring something (or being really) awful, but I think he is a lock now. Garvin is a good bet. Hamilton, Gileai, and Jones: I can make a case for all of them. I am waiting on events now. We should have some practice roundups and two preseason games we can see to evaluate this position.
Tyler Davis doing quite a bit to try to lose his roster spot. I had him as a lock, and have now downgraded him to a good bet. Or have I? I still think he is going to make the 53: he's the only guy who can block inline and catch behind Tonyan. I agree that Alize Mack is making some noise recently. Again, waiting on events.
Not a fan of Newman at RT. Not a fan of Hanson at RG. I don't think too much should be read into Caleb Jones getting a look at RT. It is not uninteresting, but I don't think he is the answer at OT in 2022. I like Zach Tom, but not so much as a starter in 2022. Maybe? I haven't heard much about whether Nijman has improved as a LT (each year in the NFL often helps), nor have I really seen much about how he is at RT. I suspect that the coaches will just plug in Jenkins at various spots and see which combination works.
Maybe just 4 at ILB. I was rooting for Wilborn but I haven't seen it or read it.
Anyway, getting ahead of myself here. Still 13 days to cutdowns (24 days to game one), with two preseason games yet to go. Lots of time to evaluate and shuffle. Lotta camp left.
LLCHESTY
August 17, 2022 at 08:08 pm
Thanks again TGR. I liked the "maybe so" at the end of the LaFluer quote on Doubs. Not hard to remember a few MVS should've brought in. Doubs has much better hands than MVS, just needs to shed the concentration lapses. Just last year there was a lot written about Jamar Chase's drops in preseason and he turned out ok.
Sounds like Toure has the play of the day. I think fans overestimate the difficulty of getting a WR to the PS(so many of them) but if Toure keeps it up I'd be nervous about that 24 hours.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
August 18, 2022 at 07:45 am
Toure has an upside and most likely will not make it thru waivers. My answer is if you have someone you know is going to be a player and are worried about him not clearing waivers than you do not take the risk.
Doubs is going to be a star and I believe before the season is out will be the WR who ends up with the most yards on the team. If he is not he might be very close behind. Bright future!
murf7777
August 18, 2022 at 08:18 am
I’m not so sure you worry too much about Toure making waivers. My guess is every team has UDFA & late draft pick player(s) making similar plays in practice and scrimmage sessions. That’s still a far cry from performing against #1’s in real season games. There are a lot of Toure’s out there.
Right now, they need consistent WR’s who Rodgers can trust to be where they need to be and make clutch plays. Think Cobb. If Rodgers clock wasn’t ticking I’d think differently, but this is a win now mode team.
Coldworld
August 18, 2022 at 09:45 am
There are some teams that are desperately short of WRs. They are looking for exactly the speed, tracking and hands and positional versatility that a Toure type shows. For marginal athletes perhaps, but it’s traits like that that get a player picked up. Toure is showing that he’s not a one horse pony, but that he can be a legitimate deep threat who can run, adjust and catch the deep ball. That alone will get him attention. I’d not let him near the PS. Other teams scout camps just as we do.
We might have more chance of stashing Winfree, but I think Rodgers won’t want that and that he will be our 5th active and first in in the event of injury on game day. He knows all the positions and route trees and Rodgers trusts him. Rodgers, if he’s not returning, likely would get through waivers. He’s a 5’9 pure slot receiver with a bad first year on both O and STs and less catches in camp than either Winfree or Toure. We have better slot WRs than him behind Cobb if we are honest, they just may be playing other positions.
LLCHESTY
August 18, 2022 at 02:04 pm
Much rather see Rodgers on the Bears than Toure that's for sure.
Bure9620
August 17, 2022 at 09:41 pm
Jordan Love is making strides and big plays and continues to grow. It doesn't surprise me. He will start, I just dont know where...
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
August 18, 2022 at 07:54 am
Tough decisions have to be made Bure. It is like if Toure continues to shine the rest of camp and pre-season showing significant upside and there isn't a spot on the 53 what do you do? Try sticking him on waivers and hope he makes it to the PS, or do you get rid of Cobb at 32 years old with an injury history?
Was good to see Love balled out yesterday and was the star of practice. I see significant growth taking place and fully expect him to shock everyone with his performance in these remaining pre-season games but also in game appearance during the season. He still is young and inexperienced and going to have ups and downs. The same thing with his 5th year option what do you do?
I know what I'd do in both situations. Veterans need to make room for talented and your players with lots of potential and upside to let them grow. Trying to eeke out one last year with a veteran vs choosing a player who will play another 8 to 15 years for you is a no-brainer for me.
Coldworld
August 18, 2022 at 09:54 am
I hope Cobb can contribute. There’s always a danger that injuries and age can catch up, like in Driver’s last year. I didn’t expect to see Cobb much in camp or for him to do much when we did. He is a known proposition and he really doesn’t need extra practice and wear and tear.
I agree wholeheartedly with your point about moving on in ordinary circumstances, but I think that there is no chance that they do that in this one if we are honest. Rodgers wants Cobb and that’s just an additional cost of retaining Rodgers if indeed Cobb doesn’t prove his value this year when the real stuff starts.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
August 18, 2022 at 01:19 pm
CW,
What I also think and agree with. I struggle with it if the Packers feel Toure has a great upside and they lose him because of a broken down last year side kick of Rodgers.
Coldworld
August 18, 2022 at 09:54 am
Duplicate
Bure9620
August 18, 2022 at 11:43 am
I do still think Toure would likely make it through waivers, though he is an intriguing player.
Love's 5th year price tag is very high, $20 Mil. The only way I see the Packers exercizing it is if Rodgers goes down with an injury for a significant amount of time this season, Love steps in and plays real well. In that scenario, They would be moving on from Rodgers as well.
Coldworld
August 17, 2022 at 06:53 pm
Kobe Jones seemingly carrying on rising—first time I’ve seen him cited as likely to crack the roster. I think he’s worthy if he can keep it up. Enagbare had made his point once the real contact started. Liking him a lot at this point.
I wonder if Caleb Jones gets a go with the ones at RT before the end of camp.
Sounds like Winfree and Toure keep impressing. Nice to hear of Winfree getting behind his man and Toure showing why he was a regular big play threat last year and yet willing to layout in the end zone for the 2 pointer.
Davis TE is indeed having a nightmare week. Maybe over thinking and not playing? Mack is has looked the better option in the blocking and passing games, though maybe not as rapid.
Doubs may have caught some flack recently but he just keeps making plays. No way Rodgers won’t want to throw to a guy who just keeps getting open surely.
dobber
August 17, 2022 at 07:37 pm
I thought Kobe Jones flashed against SF in the first half. Glad to see him making strides.
LLCHESTY
August 17, 2022 at 08:10 pm
I couldn't remember if his sack was 1st half or 2nd but I liked how he got it. He's made a couple plays against the run too.
canadapacker
August 17, 2022 at 07:19 pm
I know it is preseason and I know that we dont have our best backs playing - preseason game 1. But I watched the San Fran game several times. I dont know how PFF was ranking our Oline ( maybe only on pass protection) but our backs got stuffed several times in the first half - with the supposed ones against their 2's. My question is - is our Oline ready to be the bulldozer run blocking type of Oline - yes we have Dillon and shifty and powerful Jones - but will that get it done? We need to be better in the redzone and if we cant block for the running game - then we will be in doo doo?
Coldworld
August 17, 2022 at 07:28 pm
Personally I do not believe so with Hanson and Newman or even Tom at this point. They’ve been surprisingly good against unschemed rushing in the passing game but it’s no accident that today all the successful rushes went left behind Nijman and Runyon.
Interestingly, the Rhyan and C Jones right side of the seconds was much more effective. That’s lesser opposition but suggests Rhyan may be improving and that Jones might yet be a keeper and (wild optimism here) even a better option by the end of camp if Jenkins isn’t ready initially.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 17, 2022 at 09:22 pm
It looks like the Packers defense when it is at nearly full strength (missing just Savage vs. NO) is going to be fine, perhaps something even better.
The offense is another matter. I am not petrified or anything, but I have some misgivings about the line. Jenkins obviously will help. It wouldn't surprise me if the light comes on for one of the RG candidates. Perhaps Rhyan, Tom, or Newman if he is allowed to move back to RG. I was impressed by Watkkins - much more strongly built than I thought and he looked like a definite NFL receiver. Worried about his injury history, of course. I don't think we've had a bulldozing OL in quite a few years, but it has been pretty good at blocking for the run as a whole as opposed to short yardage situations in many of the recent seasons. Hard to know about the OL when the opponent is not playing their number ones. Our offense was not great against NO, which is expected to field a good defense in 2022. Neither team showing its whole playbook.
packer132
August 17, 2022 at 07:52 pm
TGR: Thanks for the detailed report of the joint practice, It's great to get daily updates on the Packers after two months on no news. I don't remember so many roster battles in past years, as there is depth with several positions. Some of the fringe players will end up on the practice squad (16 again) and that's how Tonyan and Lazard came up. Only 3 1/2 weeks until the Vikings game, and I hope Jenkins will be able to get back to full strength for week #1.
LLCHESTY
August 17, 2022 at 08:19 pm
For next year they need to get the man a press pass! Let TGR ask the probing questions!
LLCHESTY
August 17, 2022 at 08:32 pm
I've had trouble linking these things in the past but they have a new format on packers.com so I'll try it. Good three guys with three things today, especially McCarren on Enagbare.
Three Things: Jarran Reed, young WRs bouncing back, and Kingsley Enagbare
https://www.nfl.com/videos/three-things-jarran-reed-young-wrs-bouncing-b...
dobber
August 18, 2022 at 09:13 am
Every time I watch "three things" videos, I get creeped out by Larry's pinky finger. It ain't s'post to bend like that...
LLCHESTY
August 18, 2022 at 02:09 pm
I blocked it out long ago. I brought that up on the Acme site a couple years ago and a couple guys thanked me profusely for bringing it up! The only thing that weirds me out now is when he sticks his hands in his pockets. How the hell does that finger fit in there?
LambeauPlain
August 17, 2022 at 09:10 pm
Throwing the football, Love had a good day. Great day. His best day?
Did Enagbare and Kobe Jones find the light switch at same time? More Defense, please!
Coldworld
August 17, 2022 at 09:51 pm
Contact perhaps. OLB without that is ballet
mattgsx
August 18, 2022 at 09:54 am
Really like what I am hearing about all the 2nd team LBs. Sounds like there is enough depth there that there will be guys at OLB and ILB to be able to sub in and make plays, which is the most you can ask for right now. If any of them have to take extended action it could be an issue, but the depth feels better at both these spots than it did last year.
tomstafford
August 17, 2022 at 09:36 pm
It's the first game of the preseason, so I'm aware that we won't have our top running backs available. However, I did check out the San Francisco game many times. https://drift-hunters.io
LLCHESTY
August 17, 2022 at 10:30 pm
This site could really use a flag button. The bots are getting sneaky.
Guam
August 17, 2022 at 09:48 pm
I thought Malik Taylor looked pretty good a year ago, but he disappeared this pre-season. Was he injured?
Coldworld
August 17, 2022 at 09:54 pm
Yes. Missed most of camp. Came back, was cleared for contact then waived injured a day or so later. Likely recurrence of shoulder injury.
Guam
August 18, 2022 at 07:39 am
Thanks CW! Too bad for Taylor, I thought he had promise although Rodgers always seemed to prefer Winfree.
Coldworld
August 18, 2022 at 08:23 am
Taylor was the star of camp last year as a WR, but disappeared after game one for a guy who was cut and now is with the Bears who never justified his return. Perhaps Taylor was a scapegoat for the dreadful all round O in that game, perhaps he upset someone some other way, we likely never know.
I was reading a discussion about Getsy yesterday. I stayed out of that because I really don’t know what Getsy did to help Rodgers. It could be he deserves some credit for the renaissance or it could be he was just here.
What I do gather is that Getsy has been a huge EQ proponent in Chicago. If he was the guy that pushed for EQ to sneak back and was involved in such decisions then I am glad that is gone. I think both Taylor and Winfree would have done more given the chance and had earned it far more. Overall, I do think Winfree is more versatile as a WR. Taylor was really primarily a tough slot.
mattgsx
August 18, 2022 at 10:57 am
Taylor was also a returner option, right? I thought I remembered him doing some PR or KR duty either last year or the year before. GB has lots of other options there this year and Winfree has shown more as a receiver when healthy.
croatpackfan
August 18, 2022 at 04:37 am
So, it looks like AR showed today some inconsistency. Hmmmm? Is he a bust?
Just joking. As everyone else people have their days on, days off and average days. The goal for Jordan Love is that his average days will be above days on of most of the NFL QBs. Can he achieve that goal? Time will tell....
Thegreatreynoldo
August 18, 2022 at 05:12 am
Just a shout out to Andy Herman for his prescience about the lack of WRs with Gafford and Danny Davis being out with ankle injuries. A couple of hours later the Packers announced their successful waiver claim on WR Fulgham.
I was privately amused to insert Jersey Al's August 12th tweet about his lack of faith in Hanson and Newman on the right side. It worked out since he used it in his Confessions article yesterday. I find this lack of faith distressing. As a note, I hereby affirm that I was aware of his tweet but didn't have a chance to use it since I did a snap counts article on the 8/12/22 game and not a roundup. 😇
Coldworld
August 18, 2022 at 08:37 am
Does anyone have faith in a Hanson Newman right side? In an emergency to finish a game perhaps, but not through choice. They have held up in pass blocking but they haven’t faced either starter talent or scheming. I don’t think they could run block for a main battle tank.
Sadly a few do seem to think Tom is better. At this point he really hasn’t been at RT and he had Newman inside him who is much better than Hanson (and was last year until stunting undid him for the first two thirds of the regular season).
Newman is fine at G. In fact he’d likely benefit from being left there through preseason. If Jenkins isn’t back I personally would try Jones or the waiver wire for a cheap vet. Jones isn’t likely to be better in the pass game but he’s shown he can get push and handle the run game. I think the pass protection success is a mirage that evaporates immediately in game 1.
The alternative is to accept we aren’t running it well in game one (and until Jenkins returns) unless going left. Exactly what happened yesterday. If I was an opposing defensive coordinator I’d be salivating at Hanson/Newman or Tom on the right. Stunts, overloading, bull rushes, blitzes, you name it.
MarkinMadison
August 18, 2022 at 06:17 am
I don't know if we have a true #1 wide receiver in Green Bay. I don't know how big the gap is between Lazard/Watkins and the rest of the receivers. What I do know is that more and more of these guys are reportedly making plays. This will make for interesting decisions at cut down time. Do you go with the guy with the higher floor, or the guy with the higher ceiling? Do you suffer through the rookies this year in hopes that they will be ready for the playoffs, or do you go with the vets with injury history and hope that the pups won't be needed?
Thegreatreynoldo
August 18, 2022 at 07:41 am
I don't think anyone knows for sure if GB has a #1 WR, depending on your definition.
I think Watkins is a clear X receiver (split wide, has to stay within one yard of the LOS, and can't go into motion). He is much more strongly built than I thought. Clearly has no trouble handling press on the outside. LaFleur has been happy with Doubs' ability to beat press, both against our own CBs (who might have been a trifle less physical than he will see in real NFL games) but also against SF and the NO scrimmages, where they did not hold back. Lazard can play X but I don't want him nailed out real wide, preferring that he be able to line up in a tighter formation to run routes or block closer to the point of attack on runs.
#1 WR I suppose is just one's best WR. In my mind, that player has to be able to play X even if he plays a lot of slot and Y, but that's probably not part of the textbook definition, if there is one. Watkins looked big, fast and smooth to me. Hope he stays healthy.
PatrickGB
August 18, 2022 at 07:58 am
Very good points TGR. In the past we had Adams line up all over. Now it seems that some guys are better in some positions than others. This makes the offense more predictable. Perhaps over time this will change but I expect that the team will have to suffer it’s lumps as the receivers learn.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
August 18, 2022 at 08:06 am
I think starting the season its mainly the veterans but you slowly incorporate the young lads in spots to gain experience and allow them to adjust to the game. Moving thru the season with injuries to the veterans the young players are fully incorporated playing just as much as the veterans. The young guns will likely take over a big part of the WR rotation later in the year.
PatrickGB
August 18, 2022 at 07:59 am
Ok, it’s time for my regularly scheduled rant. Why is Hanson with the ones?
Coldworld
August 18, 2022 at 09:00 am
He’s the back up C. Probably Tom could have been, but they tried to use Tom at T and he’s not physically ready and now likely isn’t an early option at C so Hanson will be active. At this point they are stuck until Jenkins is able to return. Neither Tom nor Newman are adequate at T but Hanson will need to be active. They either try Jones at RT or accept that’s the best of a bad deal barring an addition. Replacing Hanson with Rhyan would still leave Newman where he shouldn’t be.
PatrickGB
August 18, 2022 at 04:49 pm
Thank Cold. I watched Steno in his interview. He claimed that Hanson is a much better player than he was in the past. Yet I do still see him as being one of the weaker links on the line.
LambeauPlain
August 18, 2022 at 08:02 am
The Camp OL depth chart is settling with still churn on the Right Side. The Left of Nijman, Runyan, Myers looks set for now.
This week Jenks probably settled one of the two questions if he is penciled at RT. Makes sense to me.
Newman at RG could be the play, but this remains the weak link in the OL chain and may be undecided until Vyqueen week.
Rhyan still has a shot if he can climb over that rookie wall. I suppose Hanson does...but it seems he has shown he can be a dependable interior backup G/C.
Seems Tom is getting more snaps at LG than RG, which is interesting. He is likely on the 53 already as a backup swing T.
Nijman, Runyan, Myers, Newman, Jenks would be a good line, IMO.
Nijman, Runyan, Myers, Rhyan/Hanson, Jenks may yet be a better line.
Could Nijman, Tom, Myers, Runyan, Jenks be the best 5 by week 1?
Would eventually love to see a better 5 of Bakht, Jenks, Myers, Runyan, Nijman.
T7Steve
August 18, 2022 at 08:51 am
I have to agree with you and go a step farther with COLDWORLD's thinking about Cole being a better temporary option. If we can't establish the run we're going to be like last year and have to pass to set up the run. That's backwards! The only successful runs on the right sound like they happened with the 2s or when Cole was with the 1s with Newman moved to guard.
I am surprised at the existing 1s pass blocking success, but, don't think that will survive during the regular season if the run isn't honored. We can't become a strictly left handed running team either.
I know we have to take the rehab easy but, let's pitch in and buy Jenks a new leg if we have too.
Coldworld
August 18, 2022 at 09:07 am
Tom at G negates his best asset, his footwork and leaves us with an undersized and understrength G. I hope we don’t need to see him there this season and that his frame will allow him to add mass and power for next.
Newman at G doesn’t worry me. He was genuinely good in the latter part of last season. Rhyan would probably be my next man up at G already. He at least looked better in games, against lesser opposition admittedly. As I’ve said, I’d stop kidding myself that holding up in protection in preseason means that they can in a real game. Put Jones at T, Newman at G and Lewis next to them. Then we might at least run the ball. I don’t think our pass pro would be noticeably worse unfortunately.
T7Steve
August 18, 2022 at 09:42 am
Sorry, I meant C Jones not Cole.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 18, 2022 at 06:18 pm
No practice today. So, some interesting comments by Steno as reported by Ryan Wood:'
Adam Stenavich says Jake Hanson has had "one of the best camps of anyone on our offense." He says Hanson "GOT HIS HIP FIXED" and looks like a different guy. "He has an ability to play any inside position. Hopefully he does a good job over the next preseason games and proves it." [EMPHASIS ADDED]
About Yosh Nijman as a RT, which we haven't seen him play much. Nijman has played the blindside well, but Stenavich says his fundamentals slip on the right side. "He kind of struggles with that sometimes." He wants to see same consistency on both sides.
OC Adam Stenavich says he's making multiple contingency plans for offensive line, based on whether the unit has David Bakhitiari and Elgton Jenkins, just one of Bakhtiari and Jenkins, or neither. A lot of moving parts up front right now.
Interesting. Hanson got his hip fixed, which I translate into he had a problem that needed surgery.
I wondered how Nijman was as a RT as opposed to a LT. Probably a muscle memory issue.
Love to ask Steno about Runyan's ability to move to RG, if any, and a host of other ones.