Packers Practice Roundup: August 4, 2022
The offense ran the ball well today thanks to Tyler Goodson with assists from the tight ends and offensive line.
It was a beautiful day in Green Bay. This was a fun practice with plenty of action. No new injuries and no one returned to the field from injury.
GENERAL/PERSONNEL:
Packers just finished up another 1-on-1 period. Watched WRs and TEs vs. DBs again and Innis Gaines was the player of the session. Kabion Ento and Rasul Douglas also picked off Jordan Love on two straight throws. Juwann Winfree and Amari Rodgers with best routes run on offense. Schneidman
QUARTERBACKS/WIDE RECEIVERS:
As improved as Jordan Love has looked in team periods, he still has work to do in 2-minute drill. Errant throws and inability to feel the pressure just hurt the Packers second-team offense, stopping drive short of field-goal position. Preseason will be a great litmus test. 2) Packers run an option keeper for Jordan Love in team period. Haven’t seen that much. 3) Rasul Douglas is so smooth when transitioning from coverage to playing the ball. Just jumped an out route vs. Randall Cobb in 1 on 1s and, without breaking stride, picked a Jordan Love pass for 6. Went the other way quick. Wood
Love finds Hyman in the back corner of the end zone. Beautiful throw and a leaping touchdown grab for Hyman. Love’s best throw of the day. 2) Nice find on a checkdown to Baylor. First down. [Pretty sure he's referring to Love.] 3) Love throws deep middle and should have been picked by Gaines. Toure had Gaines beat but Love undercooked it. Lucky it wasn’t picked. 4) Loves turn in 2 minute [his first two minute series]. 1st play - incomplete to Doubs - qb and wr not on the same page. Love to Goodson over the middle. Love stripped, ball floats in the air, Tipa picks it and returns for a td. Defense balling again. [LaDarius Hamilton with the strip, per Bill Huber.] 5) Hyman I think catches a contested catch over the middle with Vernon Scott in very tight coverage. Hyman’s already got a couple catches again. He’s made the most of his opportunities. 6) Love throws low to Doubs on a wr screen. 7) Danny Davis had a step on Donte Vaughn but over shot. Herman
Aaron Rodgers’ pass tipped at the LOS, and rookie ILB Quay Walker picks it. Couldn’t tell if it was Kenny Clark or Jonathan Garvin with the batted pass. Both were in the backfield. 2) Aaron Rodgers is dealing today. Just fired a strike to Josiah Deguara, who found a soft spot in the zone, while rolling right. Best the offense had looked since Day 1. Wood [I hope not! TGR]
Rob Demovsky, Bill Huber, and I have watched our fair share of Aaron Rodgers play action, but that fake handoff to AJ Dillon got us all. He rolled right and we were all watching Dillon go up the middle, only to see Rodgers hit Lazard for a first down along the right sideline. Schneidman
Completion to Aaron Jones out of a 4x1 set and Jones in the slot. Huge play to start 2minute. Rodgers to Tyler Davis over the middle to keep the drive moving. Jonathan Garvin fantastic pressure - I think against Zach Tom. Garvin beats Tom next rep too. Herman [15 to 20 yard completion Adot to Jones.
Brutal drop by Toure in red zone on a slant that should have been a TD. Nice job by Love throwing with anticipation into an open window. Nagler
Lazard with a fantastic down block on Ramsey to spring a run to the outside. 2) Rodgers with a sick play action and a completion to Lazard on a crosser. Master technician at work. 3) Watkins wins deep for a td vs Shemar. Herman [A couple of crossers, one pretty deep, for Lazard. TGR]
Doubs:
Another impressive catch from Romeo Doubs, who had ILB Isaiah McDuffie draped all over him in the shallow middle, but held into a good ball from Jordan Love. Kid has strong hands. 2) Romeo Doubs continues to impress. Beat Eric Stokes on an inside route, then held on for a catch despite Stokes being called for DPI. Strong catch. Stokes was draped all over him. There hasn’t been a more impressive WR to this point in camp. Wood
Doubs gets paid off on the next play with a catch on a slant. 2) Complete to Doubs on back to back plays - the second play was a fantastic diving catch. [This was late in practice, and yes, that was a very good catch. TGR] 3) Doubs just caught a massively contested catch with Stokes all over him. Great coverage. Kid just keeps making plays. Herman
RUNNING BACKS:
Young players team period and BJ Baylor gets setup perfectly on a screen play. CVL, Rhyan, and Doubs (of course) leading the way. 2) Great blitz pickup again from BJ Baylor. Dude can block his ass off. Gave Love time to hit Toure but Toure dropped it. [Baylor had a nice blitz pick up in a prior practice. TGR] 3) Tyler Goodson is feeling himself today. Great run up the middle. Herman [Goodson can make a cut and accelerate. Showed it several times today. TGR] 4) Tyler Goodson with a hell of a run to the outside. Great hesitation move to spring him for extra yards. And follows it up with a huge run left with another great hesitation and cut. Huge two plays for 39. [Thought I remembered several really nice runs by Goodson!]
TIGHT ENDS:
TE Tyler Davis can run. Just got behind Rasul Douglas, wide open on a corner route, and Aaron Rodgers did not miss. About a 50-yard TD. Wood [AR on the run due to pressure up the middle by Quay Walker. I just didn't see who the center/guard was. Bad because they knew it was coming. TGR]
There is a nice summary of the tight ends. They had a very good day. Bill Huber's article in SI is excellent. He tells you in detail who did what to whom, and has a long list of results from one on ones.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
During the one-on-one pass-protection drill, here were the starters’ results: left tackle Yosh Nijman, 2-0 vs. Preston Smith; left guard Jon Runyan, 1-1 vs. Dean Lowry; center Josh Myers, 2-0 vs. Kenny Clark; right guard Royce Newman, 0-2 vs. T.J. Slaton; right tackle Zach Tom, 1-1 vs. Rashan Gary. Bill Huber's article has the second team offensive line results and more information in general.
Two tries in one on ones, Slaton goes absolutely nowhere against Runyan. Teaching tape from the Packers guard. Nagler
Rookie Zach Tom getting a hard look at RT. He’s been there all day again, with Royce Newman at RG. Wood [Tom had some rough reps against Gary in one on ones. 0-2. Now I see Huber scored it 1-1; I suppose I had a bad angle and on one rep Tom ran Gary wide and around the QB. Very possible when one is 60 yards away. TGR]
Jonathan Garvin fantastic pressure - I think against Zach Tom. Garvin beats Tom next rep too. Herman [For those counting, that's four pressures allowed by my count. TGR]
Caleb Jones has had a couple of real nice pass pro sets today. Herman [This man - Caleb Jones - is enormous (6'9", 370 lbs.). Bakh looked, um solid, with plenty of sand in his behind. Tom looks noticeably smaller than every other offensive lineman. OC Clary got some individual attention during drills. TGR]
DEFENSIVE LINE:
Jonathan Ford with an impressive run stop. He’s got a real chance as #6 defensive lineman. 2) TJ Slaton blows up a run play in the backfield. Herman [At least 2 or 3 nice reps from Slaton today. TGR]
Dean Lowry looks really large. He is listed at 296 pounds, but he looked 320 to me. TGR
LINEBACKERS:
McDuffie with a run stop on Baylor. 2) Quay telegraphs a blitz but gets right through the line anyway. Rodgers is able to scramble to his right and hit Deguara over the middle. Rodgers in the zone so far today. Herman
DEFENSIVE BACKS:
Adrian Amos sure gets a nose for the football near the goal line. He just ended the Packers 2-minute drill picking a high Aaron Rodgers pass to TE Josiah Deguara in the end zone with 12 seconds left. 2) CB Kabion Ento. A college WR, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, but might have most impressive hands on defense other than Rasul Douglas. He showed those hands picking a ball over Juwann Winfree down left sideline. Looked like a receiver on the play. Wood
Donte Vaughn pbu to end the session. Doubs was the receiver. Defense wins all three 2 min drills with 2 picks and a turnover on downs. Defensive backs were awesome. 2) Leavitt all over Dafney in the flat. Herman
Romeo Doubs just got his first taste of Smash Amos. Deep crosser and Amos cleanly laid him out (by accident) while breaking up the pass from Rodgers. Amos helped Doubs up afterward. Schneidman
Shemar good coverage on Winfree. 2) Shawn Davis looked to be holding [Alize] Mack. [Wow, I think I saw that - said aloud that the ref had his flag glued to his belt. Thought Jean-Charles held Lazard once as well but the pass went elsewhere and no flag. TGR] 3) Gaines fantastic pbu vs Amari. 4) Thomas great pbu vs Hyman. Physical coverage. 5) Sal Canella knows how to run a route. Easy separation vs S. Davis. 6) Rico great coverage and a pbu vs Doubs. 7) Winfree just put Gafford in a blender. Totally turned him around. Wide open completion. 8) Jaire tight coverage and pbu vs Lazard. Vernon Scott good coverage on T Davis. Amari just put Innis Gaines in a blender. Wow. Watkins - Gafford fun battle but overthrown. Ento with gorgeous coverage and a pick on Winfree. Beautiful play. Herman
Shemar Jean-Charles got into a bit of a tussle with Deguara. TGR
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Maybe one of the lost aspects of Romeo Doubs’ hot start to camp is that he has a legit chance to win the #1 punt return job. He looks so clean catching the ball, gets up field fast and utilizes his speed. Looks very natural. Herman
Photo courtesy of Samantha Madar and USA Today
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Comments (62)
stockholder
August 04, 2022 at 07:48 pm
The 2 minute drill is how to judge Love. The training wheels are Off people. No more free passes! More Good news on Doubs. And I want more Goodson.
Oppy
August 04, 2022 at 07:53 pm
"Adrian Amos sure gets a nose for the football near the goal line. He just ended the Packers 2-minute drill picking a high Aaron Rodgers pass to TE Josiah Deguara in the end zone with 12 seconds left. "
Oppy
August 04, 2022 at 07:53 pm
No more free passes for Aaron Rodgers, either, I guess
dblbogey
August 05, 2022 at 12:02 am
My take is that Royce Newman still sucks. We've got to get a better option until Elgton is ready. I watched a lot of Goodson in college as a Hawkeye fan. He seemed an above average college back, but nothing more. We'll see,
Turophile
August 05, 2022 at 01:56 am
I thought Rhyan would supplant Newman as a starter at guard fairly quickly, but we have heard virtually nothing about him in camp, so maybe he (Rhyan) just isn't ready yet.
On the other side of the line, Runyan has essentially made the LG position his, until Jenkins returns*...........and he is also probably the best option at RG, when he does.
* Of course Jenkins may end up at RT, which would allow Runyan to stay at LG. Nijman would then be relegated to backup, though he might be too good to be able to keep him there for a few years. I could see him ending up on another team.
Myers beat Clark twice in one-on-ones yesterday. Anyone who can do that 1 v 1 on a guy like Clark, is no slouch............and I say that despite 1 v 1 being easier for the OL than the DL because Clark is just that good.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 07:33 am
Newman was statistically as good or better than Runyon in the last third of the season. That’s pretty good. Hopefully he has retained that and he carries that improvement in recognizing stunts etc. into this year. We likely don’t find out in preseason though, last year Newman was the best rated guard in preseason overall. It was only once teams started using more than vanilla that he got exposed.
Turophile
August 05, 2022 at 01:43 am
Why would anyone think Love gets a free pass in his third year ?
We all know this is the year he looks like NFL material, or he disappears - and I am someone who always advocated he get enough time to develop towards being the best he can be.
Will that be good enough to stay with the Packers long-term ? Well, he hasn't looked like an obvious candidate for releasing, so far. We'll know more after this preseason. I still feel things could go either way - he IS improving................but is he improving enough ? Maybe. Tom Clements teaching could make the difference, but bottom line is that ultimately it is down to Love himself.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 07:37 am
It took Rodgers 3 camps to really show. This is love’s second, patience is required. We need to see progress but the road likely has a ways to go yet.
Love was effectively red shirted due to Covid and then not running the scout team in his first year. Was that wise? I don’t know, but it really means a lost year when LaFleur said he made more throws in mandatory mini camp last year than in the entirety of his first season.
Coldworld
August 04, 2022 at 09:18 pm
Oh how I wish Goodson knew what a block was.
Adding Hyam to my list of players to watch. Canella too—are they making a strong PS case? Good to see Winfree showing again.
Is it my imagination or is Caleb Jones quietly making an impression?
Good to see Gaines making a few plays and Hamilton & Garvin. The ILB/S depth could be a really difficult fight and the OLB group might be getting more interesting too. Ento and Gafford showing up again in the corner battle. Fun!
LLCHESTY
August 04, 2022 at 10:34 pm
I think Wood had Ento and Goodson as his players of the day. Quite a few writers mentioned the good hands on Ento.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 07:44 am
In an ideal world I’d love to see Goodson in an Ervin type option role. I just don’t think I’d let him block for Etling, let alone any QB who might play. I’ve never heard of a more clueless blocker at RB. So absent that kind of role (which I can’t see fitting in this roster), I see no chance of him getting on a roster with Rodgers. I hope I’m wrong but I’m hearing this from multiple sources.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 09:39 am
Me too. Gaines was the player in just that one on one session, and he overall had a nice day. I have been worried about safety, so happy to see a good outing from Gaines. Same thing with Amari running the best route - just in that session. It was a nice route, but others ran nice routes in other parts of this practice.
Ento looks like an NFL player to me when it is coverage, certainly fine as a backup who might have to step in at times. Health and tackling are the questions, and those largely get answered in preseason games and possibly in the inter-team scrimmages.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 01:28 pm
Ento has always been good in perimeter coverage when healthy. He’s shown it each preseason consistently. If he could tackle he’d have bern in the roster last year I am certain. If he can’t now, I think he’s done as he never will. These games will be huge for him. If he shows willing and effective tackling I think he’s likely on the roster and first up on the edges in the event of injury.
I want to see SJC tested against other opposition. He’s got great recognition but I want to see how he does against players and plays he doesn’t know from practice. P If he holds up he’s likely the 4th corner. I think Gafford makes it as the only one who can play inside and out. STs may ensure that. I know that ignores Nixon, but unless he proves better than SJC, he’s another purely centerfield type and he’d have to be more critical on STs than probably a 5th S or ILB and have us keep an extra CB as well as being healthy.
Swisch
August 04, 2022 at 09:00 pm
For your excellent service to Packers fans with these practice roundups, TGR, it's sad if you have to be 60 yards away from the action. You deserve better.
So glad to read about Amari having a "Wow" moment in training camp. I'm not giving up on him.
Leatherhead
August 04, 2022 at 10:00 pm
Yes, let’s use Doubs to return punts we don’t need to. What could possibly go wrong?🤪🤪
LLCHESTY
August 04, 2022 at 10:30 pm
No doubt, they should play scared and see how far that gets them. Antonio Brown returned punts when he was an All Pro WR.
Leatherhead
August 04, 2022 at 10:41 pm
There’s a difference between playing smart and playing scared. Returning punts is a losing proposition to begin with. Getting key people injured makes it worse.
LLCHESTY
August 04, 2022 at 11:19 pm
How long do you think it would be before every team started hitting rollers that cost the Packers 10-20 yards of field position on every punt?
I guess if you're worried about Doubs returning punts you've accepted the fact he's going to be a big part of the offense. Progress I guess.
PearlyBakerBest
August 05, 2022 at 08:24 am
Gotta side with Leatherhead on this one. Special teams has been nothing short of a disaster for the better part of a decade with the pinnacle being last year.
Doubs is showing potential to be an impact player just like Hill was before getting destroyed on a kick return (and Dillon iirc). We all know special teams isn’t going to transform instantly just because Bisaccia is the coach. While field position is important, I’d rather have the ball with everyone playing than 10 more yards and people on IR.
Id like to see how the special teams plays before putting potential contributing rookies behind the 8 ball.
LambeauPlain
August 05, 2022 at 12:25 pm
When you are bouncing on the bottom, instant improvement is not a high expectation.
Guys like Coach Rich can instantly transform STs. He has before. So does Rizzi who Mark Murphy let get away in 2019.
BuckyBadger
August 05, 2022 at 03:32 pm
The reason he is able to change STs around is because of the players he is allowed to utilize. There isn't a lot of scheme on a punt, you need guys who can perform their task.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 05:27 pm
There must be more than you think. That’s why Drayton was studying what other teams did differently mid season last year.
Leatherhead
August 05, 2022 at 08:45 am
It’s called a fair catch.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 09:43 am
No players the Packers can't replace should play STs. No Dillon, no Alexander, Aaron Jones, Stokes, on teams. Won't say that about Doubs at this point, but read my comment below.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 07:48 am
I thought Doubs was only going to play if there were injuries. Surely we should be protecting Rodgers?
If one has a truly natural punt returner who is not a pivotal WR, you play him there, just as we did with Cobb.
Leatherhead
August 05, 2022 at 08:46 am
It’s called a fair catch.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 09:12 am
I don’t think RB would always agree with you on that based in camp so far.
10ve 💚
August 05, 2022 at 09:56 am
RB has made it abundantly and expletively clear that he does not want a fair catch .😁😁😁
PearlyBakerBest
August 05, 2022 at 04:02 pm
I guess the question is is who are the Packers pivotal receivers? Two injury prone guys(Cobb,Watkins) and a number 4 trying to be a number 1? I’m all for putting Doubs back there but not until it’s proved he won’t get killed.
YouAskedForThis
August 05, 2022 at 02:25 pm
So did Tim Brown (All Pro) Raiders - excellent WR and Punt Returner.
Guy named Deion Sanders was pretty good at multiple positions too.
Leatherhead
August 06, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Devin Hester, too. Do any of those guys play for us? No? So we don't have an all time great returning for us? Gosh, I guess we should just act like we do, huh?
LLCHESTY
August 06, 2022 at 02:35 pm
Devin Hester was never an All Pro WR. He was barely a middling WR, although in this day and age I think he would see the field a lot more as a gadget guy.
BuckyBadger
August 05, 2022 at 03:30 pm
If you won't put back a rookie 4th round WRs then what are you willing to put back there? ST have been a real problem and you won't fix it by putting slow people back there who can't catch. I see no reason not to use Doubs there if he can perform the job, lots of WRs have done it in the past, I remember Cobb doing it as a rookie and was a better prospect than Doubs is.
PearlyBakerBest
August 05, 2022 at 03:50 pm
Well we put a rookie 3rd rounder back there last year and how did that go? When the other 10 players are playing like a train wreck, does it matter who’s back there?
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 05:03 pm
Yes, true. But Cobb had Nelson, Jennings, Jones and a declining Driver in the WR room. The loss of Cobb would have been noticeable since he gave them a spark in several games, but there was plenty of other talent at WR on that team.
I don't want to anoint Doubs yet. It is premature to suggest that the loss of Doubs to an ST injury would be a significant loss for the team. But Doubs at present looks better than Hyman, Toure, and Winfree. Lazard and Watkins look like they can play. I guess Cobb still can. No one is suggesting that those three form one of the better WR rooms in the NFL.
Waiting on events to see whether I would be fine with Doubs on STs. Right now, yes, I am fine with it.
Leatherhead
August 06, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Who am I willing to put back there?
I'd put the guy that I thought was the least likely to turn it over and fair catch every punt.
Season Stats: 0 yards returning, 0 turnovers, 0 penalties, 0 injuries.
That's opposed to 300 yards returning, 2 turnovers, and a half a dozen penalties and injuries, which is what the best returners in the league managed last year.
Here's my thinking: The defense has stopped the opponent and is getting off the field. Our offense is going to take over, which is good for us. THE ONLY JOB that return unit has is to get possession of that ball. No fake punts (like the one that cost us in 2014). No fumbles, no injuries, no penalties.
13TimeChamps
August 06, 2022 at 12:40 pm
"Season Stats: 0 yards returning, 0 turnovers, 0 penalties, 0 injuries."
I'm not sure where you're coming up with '0 turnovers' in that logic. You've never seen a player fumble the ball after signaling for a fair catch? Once the ball hits the ground it's a live ball, fair catch or not.
Just curious...if this "never return a punt/always call for a fair catch" mantra of yours is such a no brainer, why is it that not one NFL team employs that strategy?
LLCHESTY
August 04, 2022 at 10:33 pm
Glad you got to go up for one of the busier practices TGR. You mentioned Lowry, did Clark look noticeably smaller to you?
How about RB on STs, a little more organized compared to last year?
Johnblood27
August 05, 2022 at 12:23 am
hmmm... I have not heard Enagbare mentioned at all in any of the practice recaps.
Makes ya wonder...
Oppy
August 05, 2022 at 07:52 am
It makes me wonder what exactly you were expecting from a 5th round draft pick rookie after 7 days of camp.
Johnblood27
August 05, 2022 at 11:26 am
i expected him to be in the mix with the 5 guys jockeying for the numbers 3-5 OLB depth on the roster.
Gary and Preston are given at 1 & 2, there are 3 spots WIDE OPEN, my reasonable expectation would be that early on he would at least get a mention that he was breathing.
If he faded into the background as the more experienced players moved ahead of him, that would be a bit of a disappointment, but reasonable.
The pretty much complete radio silence is ominous in a bad way for his making the 53 and having to be exposed to waivers before perhaps landing on the PS where he could mature.
Thats what I expected.
Oppy
August 05, 2022 at 06:59 pm
Welp, I don't know what to tell you. I remember about 70% of Packers nation saying Gary was a bust throughout his rookie year. He settled in just fine.
I'm not sold on Enagbare as being anything more than a role player piece in the NFL, so maybe I didn't have inflated expectations to begin with. But damn, can a young player get acclimated for a week or two before fans start questioning his talent?
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 07:59 am
He’s had some mentions but has only had limited time with the ones and twos. They have been running with Hamilton, Galeai and now Garvin on the twos most often. I heard yesterday, I think Nagler, that Enagbare is “definitely a true physical specimen.”
To be fair, they’ve only had one full contact practice as yet, and that’s where power guys start to show. I’d be surprised if Gary and Smith play a whole lot in preseason. If they do, only to test specific players. Both have been excellent, Gary superb. Nothing they need at this point. Garvin is looking good though, and Hamilton isn’t just a body. The real test and opportunity for those guys is just starting though.
The same with Wyatt I think. They will see a lot of preseason action. I doubt we see too much of Clark and Reed, who has been a constant source of disruption. Keep an eye on Ford. He’s looked to have a really good first step.
LLCHESTY
August 05, 2022 at 10:54 am
It seems like Ford gets mentioned for run stop just about everyday. I think where he ends up depends a lot on what their vision for Clark is this year. If he looks really good in the 2nd half of the preseason games it might be hard to get him to the PS. It would be nice to have him around next year when Reed and Lowry could be gone.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 05:31 pm
Yes, I am looking forward to seeing him. I think we probably could stash him now, but he may change that fast if his burst shows up consistently.
Johnblood27
August 05, 2022 at 11:28 am
I discount anything that guy who is never right says.
The padded practices will tell the tale, I agree. The preseason snaps will be interesting as well.
Duneslick
August 05, 2022 at 10:23 am
Now we know why he sat so long in the draft.
LambeauPlain
August 05, 2022 at 08:16 am
Thanks for the recap...good read again, TGR.
Is Barnes down the depth chart? Reading more about McDuffie as backup ILB.
Is Rhyan getting any work with the 2's (I think I read yesterday he got a few snaps)?
Doubs keeps showing how amazed I was he lasted until the 4th. My draft hope was if Christian got away...draft Doubs instead. Ended up with both. Wow.
I watched his 2021 tape and what is so evident is his laser concentration tracking the ball and looking it into his hands. Many of his receptions last year were in very tight windows and Carson Strong was very accurate. Rodgers is going to enjoy throwing to Doubs.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 09:26 am
Maybe we will see in games, but I have also wondered if what we are seeing is a comprehensive change in ILB types and usage if that group. We’ve seen McDuffie and Wilborn getting time behind the starters. Both are much more similar types of player to the started and the D as practiced seems much more premised on 2 such players.
I’ve heard it suggested that Barnes is with the seconds calling the D by a couple of people but that seems just supposition. I’m wondering too if Barnes could be an odd man out in a change of design for the whole front 7. It’s at least plausible that Barry is taking the opportunity to reshape the image of the D.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 09:59 am
Not sure I can be objective: If you recall, one of my goals for the draft/off-season was to replace Henry Black and Krys Barnes. They used a first on Walker and he is going to erase Barnes.
That said, I have no recollection of having seen Krys Barnes on the field yesterday. I simply do not know if he was there. [That sounds worse that it is: practice is chaotic - 6 guys leave and 6 guys run on, and I am desperately trying to read names despite dreadlocks because i don't have the numbers of the backups memorized. I looked down to look up who number 47 is and then I heard a cheer because I missed the next play.]
LambeauPlain
August 05, 2022 at 11:33 am
Shouldn't someone named "The Great Renaldo" get preferred seating on a raised platform directly aside the field of play?
Barnes has been a thumper...but he also takes bad angles and takes himself out of the run play. And he cannot cover receivers.
Still hoping for Rhyan to show up. Measurables for a guard prospect are very good. Good college resume.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 06:04 pm
Perhaps, but as I explained once in a comment, thegreatreynoldo was not a compliment, or at best a backhanded one. I got there an hour before practice started, and still on the south side of the field. 4 hours driving time, 2 hours for practice, an hour for the Tailgate Village for libations, and this turns into an all-day thing.
T7Steve
August 05, 2022 at 08:53 am
Sounds like Royce Newman is still getting beat allot. 0 for 2 in the one on ones by Slaton (not even a projected starter) and the middle gave up too much pressure and at least one Walker sack. I was concerned about him last year and am very worried.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 09:16 am
Gary has been consistently stuffed by Nijman in those drills. Yet Gary is constantly in the backfield. Newman is physically capable. His problem is diagnosing stunts etc. Don’t get too hung up on these drills, good or bad. As to Slaton, expect him to play a lot this year.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 11:51 am
Here are my personal observations from practice:
Jake Hanson: Looked better than I thought. Have to open my mind up.
OC Menet: Better looking player than I assumed.
Myers: two braces, but looked acceptable. He probably won a stalemate twice against Clark, though Clark got some push. Most guys obviously give up some ground in pass pro, so the issue is how much. It seemed an okay amount to me.
Ento can cover. He should make the 53 is that IF the sole criterion.
Jean-Charles: feisty, thought he held twice though he got away with it. There were refs.
Kiondre Thomas and Vaughn: Each made a respectable play - don't know how many reps.
DL Byers: Watched him some. He didn't do anything while I was watching.
DL Ford: Big. Always got push. Quicker than I thought and made more than one play by getting into the backfield.
Heflin: It looks like he has trouble just jogging. Big, lumbering, yet I remember him chasing people last year pretty well. I actually did not notice him in drills or action.
Lowry looked huge. Tall, but also broad everywhere. He looks like an oversized bowling pin. Other bigs: OT Calb Jones is just enormous, but didn't look fat. Nijman and Rasheed Walker are tall but don't give an impression of really a lot of mass. Ford and Slaton look big. Sean Rhyan actually looks large, but he wears Larry Bird shorts, which look weird. Bakh just in shorts looked big but my, lots of sand in the ass. Jenkins looked a tad smaller but gave an impression of mass.
Slaton got push and showed the quickness that surprised me last year.
Wyatt: Kept trying to attack the edges of OL and having it not really work. Maybe he is working on something, or that is his game.
Eliss Brooks made a play in space. Only noticed him that one time.
Enagbare has good size. Got stymied when I saw him. Bull rushes with motor.
Quay Walker looks like a big cat. Quick, strikes fast. Strong. Strangely, I didn't notice Campbell at all.
Hamilton moved better than I expected. Big, made a couple of plays. Looked like more than a JAG to me.
McDuffie moved smoothly. Seemed to recognize early and plugged some holes.
Zach Tom: nice balance, but easily the smallest offensive lineman out there. Short, lacks mass. Measured at the combine at 6'4.2", maybe his padded thing on his helmet is smaller than the ones worn by the other OL. An inch or two shorter than these other guys. GB lists him at 304, but I'd have estimated 285. Not lean like Nijman. Looks maxed out. Thighs and arms looked good-sized for his frame, and he has a moderate belly. OL drills were done right in front of me. He has feet and balance. Not much correcting by Butkus and Mahaffey. Usually 6 OL working with each coach watching 3 guys. They said something almost every rep to someone. OC Clary got a long coaching talk. But everyone got talked to after a rep eventually. These drills had either no contact or pseudo contact. Punching took place but not at full power: more about timing and placement. The opposing player was another OL, so they seemed to me to be just targets rather than a DL trying to mitigate the punch.
Jordan Love: Well, yesterday wasn't his day. That said, he threaded the needle a couple of times. What I would call big-time throws. I remember 2 throws that lacked accuracy despite being easy throws. Obviously, two ill-advised throws into traffic. IDK, but more checkdowns with him, and he looked to Doubs when in trouble, and one of his big time throws - well I have no idea how it got through so many outstretched arms. The RPO was fun that he kept and showed that he can run a little bit. Despite everything and my concerns that 90% of being a QB is between the ears, my opinion of Love improved.
Doubs: Worried about sounding fawning. He and Lazard were the class of the WRs (I think Watkins was on a pitch count). Quick off the line and out of his break. DBs don't catch up to him. Tall, with good catch radius and an ability to track. [Lazard looked bigger and really tough while still having some quicks - Lazard is another player I need to move up in my evaluations.] I think Doubs caught 6 passes if drills, team and 2 minute are added up. Maybe the next WR caught two? Lazard and Hyman? Doubs looks like Love's safety blanket. [I thought I'd get some comment on giving Doubs his own subsection - it is part in jest, and part because he makes up a sizable proportion of that category.]
Lazard: Looked like a #2 WR. I previously thought of him as a #3 or #4, so for me, that moving Lazard up. Already knew he was a nice player to have on your team.
Hyman, Cobb - I don't know. I just wasn't watching them. don't remember seeing Cobb at all.
Toure: Seemed interesting. Good size, got off the line and looked natural. I guess he had a drop?
Amari Rodgers: He looked quicker. That said, just average quicks for a slot. Still just tiny. Fielded punts after practice. Maybe he has the want. IDK.
Aaron Rodgers: This guy is great. Can feel the pressure by some kind of osmosis, can still move and throw on the run with power and accuracy. It is a different team with different possibilities with him at QB. Demovsky, Huber got fooled by one of his play actions; so did I, but then, I am more susceptible.
Goodson: Those were NLF level cuts. The burst looked pretty good.
Baylor: Didn't see his blitz pick ups.
Dillon: Yeah, huge, fast, really good.
Aaron Jones: Yeah, can run up the seam for a big play and all else.
Tight Ends: Much happier with this group. I guess I put the link to Bill Huber's article in twice? LOL. The running plays worked like a charm. Lewis was brutal, and Dafney did his job particularly in space. Deguara got downfield and Davis blocked pretty well and got downfield. Even Alize Mack caught my eye with a nice play, and I don't even remember what he did!
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 12:27 pm
I felt a little sorry for Love. That defense, even with some twos, is tough. It isn't like Aaron Rodgers didn't have to hold the ball a little longer than he wanted multiple times. AR faced situations that might have fazed a less experience QB. I had been thinking that the OL will be fine even before Jenkins and Bakh return, but my opinion of the OL went down a notch today. I think they need one of them, and I guess Bakh is closer. I am less certain that Nijman, Runyan, Myers, Newman, Tom is going to be more than something a team can live with and maybe can't. Maybe GB's front seven is just that good, and the OL will be fine against all but the absolutely scariest defensive lines/LBs.
I am partially remember the quote by somebody or other to Nick Singletary: Nick, you could put a hole in a brick wall, but it would be a small hole. [Hmm, I am apparently butchering that since google can't find it.]
One of Love's big time throws was the needle to a diving Doubs with McDuffie all over him and somebodies in front of doubs. It was a completion, but that's damn fine coverage despite the completion.
Caleb Jones looks like a keeper, though probably on the PS. Maybe Menet as well if Hanson makes the 53. Definitely put Hanson over Menet. Sorry, didn't notice Rhyan other than drills.
Coldworld
August 05, 2022 at 02:06 pm
You seem to have caught Tom’s worst day as it happens, but I’m concerned about him when there is real contact. All the technique only goes so far if there is a physical mismatch.
Menet is going to have to learn to snap if he’s to stay as a C. I was wondering if Caleb Jones is quietly ascending. Appreciate your perspective on him.
Byers just got healthy, maybe needs time. Ford is starting to interest me more, as is Vaughn.
Toure did have a bad drop for once, but again good to hear a comment on his release.
I will say that I’d rather have real contact to judge the trenches. Half contact can be misleading.
How good do you think McDuffie is?
Are you saying it looks like Lowry has reshaped his body, perhaps for an adjusted role?
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 06:21 pm
Let me put it this way on Lowry: he'd be easy to draw, like drawing a brontosaurus as a kid. Use a not too little sphere for his head, and then use long flowing lines beginning in the pectoral area which broaden to the farthest expanse below the belt and then taper not far at all above where the knees start. Now, he happened to stand on the sideline only 20 yards from me, but all of the OL were as close doing drills. Only OT Jones gave me the impression of being a larger human being than Lowry. I grant that Ford and Slaton stayed pretty far away. Nijman looked the same height, but his shape is more like an inverted triangle. Indeed, when Lowry turned sideways, I would not have bothered to alter my drawing much at all. Anyway, by look, Lowry screamed DT.
I remember the Toure drop now. Nice move to get separation on a dig route, but it was at the stem more than the release. In fact, I believe he was in the slot on that play. He was open, just dropped it. He's got size, looked fast in a straight line, and his cut at the stem looked crisp and natural without having to gear down. IDK, thought he did everything pretty well. He is skinny. Still, not sure slot will prove to be his best position, thought it may be his best position now. I think he can do fine in the slot, but I suspect flanker or X (if he can handle a physical corner and/or put on some muscle given a year in the weight room) might be both doable and his best positions. I don't remember someone really trying physicality with him. He looked like an all-around WR.
I didn't really watch McDuffie. I saw him because the game came to him a few times. He seemed to recognize and be a sure tackler. Don't really know about his coverage other than the doubs catch.
These guys, Herman, Huber, Wood, they are wizards. They are closer, and if it were my full time job, I'd memorize each player's number, but they get this info and even tweet it out at the same time! If I focus on the RG, i probably notice the RT and the OC plus their defensive counterparts, but the LBs are a maybe and I don't know what any of the other 8 guys on offense did for that play. If it is a pass play and the LBs drop, yeah, no idea if they were late or provided good coverage.
MarkinMadison
August 05, 2022 at 02:21 pm
Thanks for the rundown TGR. I hadn't heard the name Hyman before today. I had to look him up.
I've been curious about Zach Tom for a while now, so thanks for the info. You can't fix size in-season. It may be rough if he has to start.
I know some people are big fans of Heflin. I like to see my Hawkeyes do well. His body type, I'm more surprised if he has a motor than not. So yeah, doesn't sound like he took care of business in the off-season. May be hard for him to make this team.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 05, 2022 at 06:59 pm
Hyman, and for that matter, Osirus Mitchell (big 6'5" guy) both keep catching a few passes in most practices. Both have been in the tweets: did I omit them? Hyman is 26 years old, so time is running out for him.
Drops have not really been a problem in TC so far (except for one day on punt returns when everybody had issues).
Tom's size is something I wonder about, and I'm not sure if it can be fixed even with multiple years on the NFL. No doubt it can be improved. The height must have been an illusion or he wears his padded helmet mashed down. But his hips and shoulders just aren't as wide as one would expect. His thighs/calves looked properly muscled but they weren't as large as the other OL. His arm length is fine at 33 and 1/8 inches: it isn't wonderfully long or worrying short, and his wingspan (80 3/8ths) is an 5/8ths of an inch longer than Bakh's, though they thought Bakh would have to move inside when he was a prospect. So, it can be done. I just don't think he is big-boned. [I have tried that excuse without success.]
Tom is a superb athlete with enough size and great technique. It might be enough to play tackle. I kept thinking he'd be an all-pro center but he lasted until the 4th round, so.....
I didn't mean to pick on Heflin. Maybe he just doesn't like running/jogging on the sidelines. As a backup, the twos and threes have to move from the north end to the middle or south end of the field. It looked like a chore for Heflin, is all. He may have been lightening during plays.
croatpackfan
August 05, 2022 at 03:23 pm
You are TOP TGR!
Thank you very much!
Since'61
August 05, 2022 at 09:32 pm
TGR - great job yet again! My three favorite words in your reports are always "NO new injuries." Hopefully that remains true throughout the preseason.
Thanks, Since '61