I don't know if I've ever heard of this before... I've found a number of small articles on this, and spent the last half hour reading them and putting together a picture of how the whole thing works.
Hafley has created a specific role for defensive quality control coach Wendell Davis this season; he is officially designated the "Ball King", and his sole responsibility in this year's training camp is to coach turnovers - how to create them, how to get control of the ball, and what to do when you (or one of your teammates) have created one. He is no longer addressed as "Coach Davis"; he is to be addressed only as "Ball King" (or "BK" if you're in a hurry.)
This is part of the practice every single day, and is considered so important that the daily meeting of the defensive players starts with Davis... er, pardon me, Ball King showing tape of turnovers from the day before (especially fumbles),
and turnover opportunities that were missed. Players are coached on how to not only create but to secure a turnover, how to scoop up or cover a ball on the ground (and
when to scoop it and when to cover it), and what to do once they have control. Apparently they installed a siren in the meeting room, and when there's a successful turnover on the tape, BK hits a button, the siren goes off, and the players all cheer.
Players are being taught not just how to make individual efforts to force fumbles, but also how the entire defensive unit should react when a turnover occurs - both fumbles and interceptions. When the ball goes over, how to switch instantly from defense to offense (from defender to blocker) in case there is a reasonable opportunity to advance the ball; but also how to use their judgment and make a split-second decision whether to even try to advance the ball, or simply settle for downing it.
Dav.... er, BK.... is the guy leading this parade, but it was Hafley's idea. More and more, I continue to believe that hiring Hafley was one of the best coaching decisions Lafleur has made since he got here. The only downside is, the guy is so damned good that it's a matter of time before teams start throwing head coaching offers at him. Maybe even as soon as this postseason.
I suspect he will not be here long.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – On Monday at Green Bay Packers training camp, Tucker Kraft caught a ball in the flat and headed up the right sideline. Safety Evan Williams co
www.si.com
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In other news, it turns out that Marshawn Lloyd has a groin injury, and will be out indefinitely. Technically they're saying day to day, but groin injuries are groin injuries. Very hard to tell. Not an auspicious beginning to what was expected to be a big year for Marshawn.
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Also, Lafleur has been irritated a few times this month by how hard some of the players have been hitting their teammates, and finally snapped on Tuesday when Rasheed Walker threw Kingsley Enagbare to the ground after a play had ended. Enagbare had gotten under Walker and gave Walker all he could handle, and Walker apparently didn't like being beaten.
Lafleur ran out onto the field yelling at Walker, pulled him, and told him to take a lap around the practice field - which came as a shock to Walker, who hadn't been told to run a lap since he was a freshman. A freshman in high school. In fact, Packer beat reporters say this is the first time Lafleur has ever done that.
So off he went on his lap of shame, but what I think the most important thing is what happpened next. The entire #1 O line - Tom, Morgan, Jenkins, and Rhyan - plus Tucker Kraft and Josh Jacobs fell in and joined him. It was Kraft's idea; he just spontaneously said to the other players, "let's go".
Walker said,
That rocks. Says a lot about the solidarity of this team; time and again, it seems they've got one another's backs at every single turn.
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And... encouraging news for Bo Melton. Rich Bisaccia has
his back....
There are a number of indicators that the staff really likes Bo, and are tryin to find ways to keep him around. Switching him to corner was one, and now the special teams coordinator coming out and basically saying straight up that he wants Bo on the squad. It really seems the staff has his back, and want to give him every opportunity.
Follow our daily updates from Packers training camp, including intel on the QBs, tight position battles and potential breakouts.
www.espn.com
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In his presser, Lafleur spoke very highly of Barryn Sorrell, saying "He's done a great job; you can get a feel for the character of the guy... he's an A+ in terms of how he approaches the game; he will absolutely reach his ceiling, I think, just because of how he approaches the game, and the time he puts in, and how detailed he is, and you can coach him hard; he takes everything to heart, and I think he's getting better every day."
Sounds like Matt is impressed with his 4th rounder. 1st rounder LVN had better take notice.
Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur spoke with the media before Tuesday's training camp practice.
www.packers.com
The part about Sorrell is the last minute or two. I'm excited about Sorrell; his intelligence, enthusiasm, and positive attitude won me over from the very beginning.
He flew up to Green Bay for the draft, just hoping to hear his name called, but Day 1 and Day 2 went by without a nibble on the line. On Day 3, he was still sitting in the green room watching the TV, and he was the last player in the room.
Everyone else who hadn't been drafted by the end of Day 2 had gone home. But while he was disappointed at the end of Day 2, Barryn was determined to stay until he was drafted, because after all he'd flown all the way up there. He was rewarded with a Disney moment when his name was called by the team that was hosting the draft. The Packers had no idea he was still there (because, what were the odds?), but Goodell had been informed.
When Goodell went to the microphone, he said, "This young man is here today...", and the Packers all assumed he was introducing some important person to officially announce the pick, as often happens. They were shocked when Goodell went on to say, "...and I want to introduce him. Here he is..." and he came walking out of the tunnel.
That's a very high-character move, and said a hell of a lot about him IMO.
This Youtube short is really great... as he walks out of the tunnel, with both walls covered with giant emblems of the 32 teams, and stops at the giant "G" and slams his palms on the G several times in celebration.
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And finally... Matthew Golden.
There've been a lot of stories about what an amazing performance he's showing on the field, not just every day but practically every rep, but here's another look at why I think he's got something really special going on - after every snap, he actually asks the DB who was defending him for
feedback on what he could have done better....
Can you imagine Cris Carter, Chad Johnson, or Randy Moss doing this?
Golden appears to be completely dedicated to learning as much as he can about his new job and his responsibilities on every single rep, in every possible way. I heard something on a podcast a couple of days ago that whenever he came back to the sideline, he went over to passing game coordinator Jason Vrable and talked to him, looking like he was asking questions because Vrable was obviously explaining something to him.
This speaks volumes about who this kid is. Every day, I find more reasons to think we hit the jackpot this time. I think we picked the right year to go WR in Round 1. An elite, star-power wide receiver with a blue-collar, lunch bucket approach to his job.
Matthew Golden has been showing out during the summer. However, he is just now getting comfortable playing in the NFL.
www.sportingnews.com
show" that organization has been. Their whole QB situation over the years is just comical. I think they gave up 3 1st rounders, plus a HUGE contract for Watson and the guy hasn't been very good, but more importantly has constantly been hurt. Then they go out and draft Shedeur, as if that organization needed even more distractions. I am so glad that I am not a Browns fan.
