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Thumbs up
Say what you will about Aaron Rouse’s consistency, but the guy continues to make big plays.
Granted, it was against the scout-team offense, but during a three-play span in Monday’s practice, the backup safety made two interceptions. First, he picked off a Brian Brohm pass intended for tight end Joey Haynos near the goal line. Two plays later, he intercepted a Matt Flynn pass in the end zone.
The Packers haven’t given the second-year safety much work with the No. 1 defense during training camp in part because they don’t think Rouse has been consistent enough on an every-down basis. They also say they’re pleased with starters Atari Bigby and Nick Collins.
However, with Bigby and Collins nicked up after sustaining ankle and neck injuries, respectively, last Friday against Denver, Rouse has been getting extra work with the starters. Collins is healthy enough to play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans, but Bigby probably won’t play, meaning Rouse would be in line to start.
Thumbs down
Of all the veteran offensive linemen, center-guard Junius Coston has had the worst training camp. That’s saying something given the inconsistency displayed by many of the interior linemen.
At center, Coston has regularly had problems with shotgun snaps and with under-center quarterback exchanges. His blocking also has been suspect at center and guard.
On Monday, he turned in a poor performance in the one-on-one pass blocking drill. On his first rep, he gave up too much ground against defensive tackle Alfred Malone, who got a lot of push. Then, he was abused on consecutive reps by defensive tackle Daniel Muir. On the first play, Coston whiffed on his punch, and Muir blew past him. On the second play, Muir overpowered Coston and ran over him. Later in the drill, he couldn’t block defensive tackle Rodney Allen, a street free agent signed last week.
There’s a chance all three of the defensive linemen who beat Coston won’t make the roster. If Coston doesn’t improve in the final days of the preseason, he could be in the same situation.
Rodgers watch
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took his fewest reps of camp on Monday because he’s not expected to play much on Thursday against the Titans. He didn’t even take a turn running the 2-minute drill.
Did you notice?
-- Brohm and Flynn each got a turn running the 2-minute drill. The scenario had the offense at the 40-yard line trailing 14-10 with 1:19 remaining and one timeout.
Brohm led perhaps his best drive of the summer, capping an eight-play drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith. Brohm worked against a combination of starters and backups and completed four of seven passes and scrambled for 3 yards on the only run of the drive. Brohm, however, struggled during other drills and threw two interceptions.
Flynn didn’t fare as well during the 2-minute drill, going 0-for-3 with a sack.
-- During a red-zone period in which the offense went against the scout-team defense, coach Mike McCarthy was so unhappy with the offense that after three plays, he ordered them to start the drill over.
-- Mason Crosby made all seven of his kicks during a field-goal period, making kicks of 22, 22, 27, 27, 33, 33 and 38 yards.
-- Running back Noah Herron got into a shouting match with defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins during a team period. As Herron was walking back to the huddle, he flicked the ball behind him and it hit Jenkins in the groin. Jenkins then took himself out of the drill and was hunched over in pain.
Thumbs up
Say what you will about Aaron Rouse’s consistency, but the guy continues to make big plays.
Granted, it was against the scout-team offense, but during a three-play span in Monday’s practice, the backup safety made two interceptions. First, he picked off a Brian Brohm pass intended for tight end Joey Haynos near the goal line. Two plays later, he intercepted a Matt Flynn pass in the end zone.
The Packers haven’t given the second-year safety much work with the No. 1 defense during training camp in part because they don’t think Rouse has been consistent enough on an every-down basis. They also say they’re pleased with starters Atari Bigby and Nick Collins.
However, with Bigby and Collins nicked up after sustaining ankle and neck injuries, respectively, last Friday against Denver, Rouse has been getting extra work with the starters. Collins is healthy enough to play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans, but Bigby probably won’t play, meaning Rouse would be in line to start.
Thumbs down
Of all the veteran offensive linemen, center-guard Junius Coston has had the worst training camp. That’s saying something given the inconsistency displayed by many of the interior linemen.
At center, Coston has regularly had problems with shotgun snaps and with under-center quarterback exchanges. His blocking also has been suspect at center and guard.
On Monday, he turned in a poor performance in the one-on-one pass blocking drill. On his first rep, he gave up too much ground against defensive tackle Alfred Malone, who got a lot of push. Then, he was abused on consecutive reps by defensive tackle Daniel Muir. On the first play, Coston whiffed on his punch, and Muir blew past him. On the second play, Muir overpowered Coston and ran over him. Later in the drill, he couldn’t block defensive tackle Rodney Allen, a street free agent signed last week.
There’s a chance all three of the defensive linemen who beat Coston won’t make the roster. If Coston doesn’t improve in the final days of the preseason, he could be in the same situation.
Rodgers watch
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took his fewest reps of camp on Monday because he’s not expected to play much on Thursday against the Titans. He didn’t even take a turn running the 2-minute drill.
Did you notice?
-- Brohm and Flynn each got a turn running the 2-minute drill. The scenario had the offense at the 40-yard line trailing 14-10 with 1:19 remaining and one timeout.
Brohm led perhaps his best drive of the summer, capping an eight-play drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith. Brohm worked against a combination of starters and backups and completed four of seven passes and scrambled for 3 yards on the only run of the drive. Brohm, however, struggled during other drills and threw two interceptions.
Flynn didn’t fare as well during the 2-minute drill, going 0-for-3 with a sack.
-- During a red-zone period in which the offense went against the scout-team defense, coach Mike McCarthy was so unhappy with the offense that after three plays, he ordered them to start the drill over.
-- Mason Crosby made all seven of his kicks during a field-goal period, making kicks of 22, 22, 27, 27, 33, 33 and 38 yards.
-- Running back Noah Herron got into a shouting match with defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins during a team period. As Herron was walking back to the huddle, he flicked the ball behind him and it hit Jenkins in the groin. Jenkins then took himself out of the drill and was hunched over in pain.
