From Cliff at JSOnline:
Camp Report, Aug. 8
THUMBS UP
Rookie safety and sixth-round draft pick Tyrone Culver has been on an uptick since the scrimmage Saturday and probably taken the lead in the battle for the fourth safety spot, if indeed, the Packers decide to keep four safeties. Culver maybe could have played the ball better on a 48-yard deep pass from Brett Favre to Donald Driver Saturday, but it was more the fault of cornerback Ahmad Carroll. Culver also had a shot at wide receiver Cory Rodgers on his 64-yard catch and run, but Rodgers had fresh legs at the time and Culver had been on the field much of the night as the Packers’ safety corps was whittled to three. But, for the most part, Culver played well and was around the ball as much as any defender except for maybe fellow rookie Abdul Hodge. In all, Culver had five solo tackles.
He also had a good practice Monday night and came up with a big tackle Tuesday, stopping Najeh Davenport after a one-yard gain in an 11-play live scrimmage. Culver’s physical attributes maybe don’t jump off the chart, but he appears to be a smart player and a good enough athlete.
Free agent rookie Tra Boger also is still in the running for the job. He might even be a better athlete and have better ball skills than Culver. He also had his moments in the scrimmage with four solo tackles and another tackle in Tuesday’s scrimmage. Both Culver and Bogar have been splitting time between strong and free safety. Atari Bigby, a third candidate, also is in the mix after spending part of last season on the Packers’ practice squad and playing well in NFL Europe. Bigby, a 5-foot-11, 211-pound converted linebacker, figured to make a splash on special teams, but he broke his hand in the scrimmage and is currently sidelined.
THUMBS DOWN
Any team that suffered a run of injuries like the Packers have to their offensive line this summer would be left thin. But the Packers are still suffering some aftereffects from losing their two starting guards to free agency more than a year ago.
During Tuesday’s practice, rookie right guard Jason Spitz injured his lower right leg and dropped out. That meant Siitupe Peko had to work with the first unit. Peko played three years with Indianapolis and started nine games. But he was out of football all of last season – until he played Arena ball this past winter – and didn’t have any other offers when the Packers signed him the day before they started camp. Peko is big in the hips and has some anchor to him, but he admits his techniques are rusty and that he needs plenty of work on essentially every phase of his game.
It’s not exactly a comforting situation for a team with a 36-year old quarterback and a suspect running game.
INJURY REPORT
Wide receiver Greg Jennings, who injured his groin late Monday night, didn’t practice. In addition to Spitz, guard-center Wayne Lucier also dropped out Tuesday with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
Leo Bookman (ankle), William Whitticker (hamstring), Kurt Campbell (hamstring), Patrick Dendy (ankle), Mike Hawkins (knee) and Bigby continued to miss practice.
ODDS & ENDS
Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins returned to practice. He missed Monday to attend a funeral.
Rookie punt returner Cory Rodgers might be suffering from a Chuck Knoblauch or Steve Sax Syndrome. Or at least he seems to have developed a mental block about catching punts. He had at least two more drops Tuesday in a punt return drill. Rodgers also dropped a pass in the back of the end zone in 7-on-7.
Defensive tackle Colin Cole had a good day in team work. He made at least three stops or tackles in team periods.
The linebackers had a good day in one-on-one pass rushing against backs. Rookies Abdul Hodge and A.J. Hawk both did well, but veteran Ben Taylor might have had the best rush against fullback Vonta Leach.
Hodge had the last two tackles in the scrimmage.
Quarterback Brett Favre and wide receiver Robert Ferguson combined on a deep pass over cornerback Charles Woodson in a team session. Ferguson also had a bad drop in the 7-on-7, red-zone period. … Running back Ahman Green dropped two easy passes in 7-on-7. … Cornerback Jason Horton intercepted a Favre pass that skipped off tight end David Martin’s hands.
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Culver,Boger, and Hodge sound really solid....
I can not wait till saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Camp Report, Aug. 8
THUMBS UP
Rookie safety and sixth-round draft pick Tyrone Culver has been on an uptick since the scrimmage Saturday and probably taken the lead in the battle for the fourth safety spot, if indeed, the Packers decide to keep four safeties. Culver maybe could have played the ball better on a 48-yard deep pass from Brett Favre to Donald Driver Saturday, but it was more the fault of cornerback Ahmad Carroll. Culver also had a shot at wide receiver Cory Rodgers on his 64-yard catch and run, but Rodgers had fresh legs at the time and Culver had been on the field much of the night as the Packers’ safety corps was whittled to three. But, for the most part, Culver played well and was around the ball as much as any defender except for maybe fellow rookie Abdul Hodge. In all, Culver had five solo tackles.
He also had a good practice Monday night and came up with a big tackle Tuesday, stopping Najeh Davenport after a one-yard gain in an 11-play live scrimmage. Culver’s physical attributes maybe don’t jump off the chart, but he appears to be a smart player and a good enough athlete.
Free agent rookie Tra Boger also is still in the running for the job. He might even be a better athlete and have better ball skills than Culver. He also had his moments in the scrimmage with four solo tackles and another tackle in Tuesday’s scrimmage. Both Culver and Bogar have been splitting time between strong and free safety. Atari Bigby, a third candidate, also is in the mix after spending part of last season on the Packers’ practice squad and playing well in NFL Europe. Bigby, a 5-foot-11, 211-pound converted linebacker, figured to make a splash on special teams, but he broke his hand in the scrimmage and is currently sidelined.
THUMBS DOWN
Any team that suffered a run of injuries like the Packers have to their offensive line this summer would be left thin. But the Packers are still suffering some aftereffects from losing their two starting guards to free agency more than a year ago.
During Tuesday’s practice, rookie right guard Jason Spitz injured his lower right leg and dropped out. That meant Siitupe Peko had to work with the first unit. Peko played three years with Indianapolis and started nine games. But he was out of football all of last season – until he played Arena ball this past winter – and didn’t have any other offers when the Packers signed him the day before they started camp. Peko is big in the hips and has some anchor to him, but he admits his techniques are rusty and that he needs plenty of work on essentially every phase of his game.
It’s not exactly a comforting situation for a team with a 36-year old quarterback and a suspect running game.
INJURY REPORT
Wide receiver Greg Jennings, who injured his groin late Monday night, didn’t practice. In addition to Spitz, guard-center Wayne Lucier also dropped out Tuesday with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
Leo Bookman (ankle), William Whitticker (hamstring), Kurt Campbell (hamstring), Patrick Dendy (ankle), Mike Hawkins (knee) and Bigby continued to miss practice.
ODDS & ENDS
Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins returned to practice. He missed Monday to attend a funeral.
Rookie punt returner Cory Rodgers might be suffering from a Chuck Knoblauch or Steve Sax Syndrome. Or at least he seems to have developed a mental block about catching punts. He had at least two more drops Tuesday in a punt return drill. Rodgers also dropped a pass in the back of the end zone in 7-on-7.
Defensive tackle Colin Cole had a good day in team work. He made at least three stops or tackles in team periods.
The linebackers had a good day in one-on-one pass rushing against backs. Rookies Abdul Hodge and A.J. Hawk both did well, but veteran Ben Taylor might have had the best rush against fullback Vonta Leach.
Hodge had the last two tackles in the scrimmage.
Quarterback Brett Favre and wide receiver Robert Ferguson combined on a deep pass over cornerback Charles Woodson in a team session. Ferguson also had a bad drop in the 7-on-7, red-zone period. … Running back Ahman Green dropped two easy passes in 7-on-7. … Cornerback Jason Horton intercepted a Favre pass that skipped off tight end David Martin’s hands.
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Culver,Boger, and Hodge sound really solid....
I can not wait till saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
