Thumbs up
Maybe Daryn Colledge is better suited to play left tackle than left guard.
The rookie looked comfortable, especially during the one-on-one pass blocking drill on Wednesday, at his old position. Colledge started all 52 games of his college career at Boise State at left tackle. However, the Packers penciled him in at left guard after they drafted him in the second round, but after one preseason game he lost his starting spot.
Though coach Mike McCarthy said he views as Colledge as a left-side guy, meaning he could play either left guard or left tackle, he appears to be better suited to play the outside spot.
In one-on-ones on Wednesday, he looked good on all four of his reps. He handled the team’s best pass rusher, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, on his first rep and then did OK against Gbaja-Biamila the second time around, giving up a little bit of ground. He then won reps against backups Dave Tollefson and Montez Murphy.
The Packers are searching for a backup left tackle, and it could end up being Colledge. Undrafted rookie Josh Bourke had worked at that spot but is out with a calf injury.
Thumbs down
Unlike Colledge, Junius Coston might not have what it takes to play tackle.
The second-year pro got pushed around in the one-on-one pass rushing drill on Wednesday and hasn’t stood out since the Packers moved him to right tackle early in training camp. Coston opened camp at right guard but like Colledge, he didn’t last there. At this point, it’s unclear which position is Coston’s best. In his two training camps with the Packers, he has lined up at all five offensive line positions.
His problem on Wednesday appeared to be a lack of strength. He gave up a lot of ground going against Michael Montgomery twice and Jason Hunter once.
Did you notice?
Though rookie quarterback Ingle Martin has struggled with his accuracy throughout training camp, every once in a while he makes a throw that has people believing he can play in the NFL. He did that on Wednesday. While running the scout team, he was faced with some light pressure up the middle and had to sidestep a defender. In the same motion, he dropped his arm down and side-armed a pass to receiver Calvin Russell, who caught the ball in stride on a crossing route.
Dave Rayner went 3-for-4 on field goals during the practice held inside the Don Hutson Center. He missed wide left from 39 yards. All of his misses in camp have been left. He made kicks of 19, 24 and 30 yards.
Ruvell Martin, who is battling for the final receiver spot on the roster, had two drops during Wednesday’s practice.
Fullback Vonta Leach, who dropped what would have been a sure touchdown pass in Saturday’s game against Atlanta, dropped another swing pass on Wednesday. The pass from Aaron Rodgers would have been a tough catch – Leach reached out with one hand – but it was not impossible.
Receiver Carlton Brewster, acquired on Tuesday from Cleveland for cornerback Therrian Fontenot, made a one-handed catch against cornerback Ahmad Carroll near the end of practice. The reason Brewster had to catch it one handed? Carroll was holding his other hand.
Like Tuesday’s practice, Wednesday’s workout was closed to the public because the Packers were working on things specific to the regular-season opener against Chicago. Reporters were allowed to attend but were barred from writing anything play-specific, just as they would be during the regular season.
-- Rob Demovsky,
[email protected]
