Packers Family Night Scrimmage

by Brandon on Aug 7, 2010 10:14 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Training Camp

The most important thing is to keep every member of the Green Bay Packers healthy. From Tom Fanning at Packers.com:

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said wide receiver Jordy Nelson sustained a bruise to his side, linebacker Clay Matthews tweaked his hamstring, and wide receiver Brett Swain sprained his knee during the Family Night scrimmage. McCarthy said it was too early to judge the severity of the injuries.

Greg Bedard tweets that Swain said it was just a "scare" and his knee is fine. Obviously Nelson and Matthews are important to the team, but neither injury sounds serious.

The Press-Gazette has posted a bunch of photos if you are so interested.

UPDATE: From the Journal-Sentinel, CB Josh Bell is on crutches after a right foot injury, and he's scheduled for an MRI. He was signed late last season after the injury to CB Al Harris, and didn't play a whole lot, but he was in coverage on the game losing TD pass in Pittsburgh last season. He's in the mix for a spot at the end of the bench, but not a lot was expected from him this season, if this turns out to be serious.

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Analysis of the Scrimmage

Offense looked sharp. Running game struggled as usual though. Passing was effective as always.

Defense looked solid. Underwood and Shields both had an interception returned for a TD. Very impressive! AJ Hawk was a standout player. His most noticeable play was bursting through the blockers on a sweep to the right, jumped in front of FB Kuhn, and wrapped up Grant for a tackle and loss of yards. BJ Raji is everything we hoped for. He was penetrating. No sacks, but his penetration was definately noticeable. Jenkins was a beast as usual. Had an outstanding play early in the Scrimmage against the 2nd team where he threw the LT out of his way enroute to the QB. The defense was fast. The pressure was applied. The blitz schemes were creative and effective. Brad Jones had a couple good blitzes, and yes, an effective bull rush. Chillar still needs some work yet, but he’s basically raw in this new role.

Special Teams. Crosby kicked 6 for 7. He missed a 47 yarder. Most impressive Field Goals made were a 51, 53, 55. The opening kickoff was also almost kicked out of the endzone. Very nice! Punting was also impressive. A couple 60 yarders in there. 1 practice punt to get it inside the 20, and it was a fair catch at the 11.

Special Teams Coverage was still awful. Brandon Jackson returned a kickoff for a TD 99 yards untouched. Ouch!

It was all practice, none of it counts, but overall it was a performance that built optimism. The 1st and 2nd Team Defenses were getting penetration, but a lot of times it was more than 4 defenders attacking. A couple of times it was only 3 defensive linemen attacking, and they still got penetration (both of these times from the 1st team defense). I’m not sure if it is another year of experience from the 3-4 kicking in or that our Offensive Line is not so good. Hopefully it was the defense just being so good and so fast! I can definately point out that I couldn’t recognize who would blitz and who would drop back. That’s a good sign!

Clay Matthews, Donald Driver, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, and Al Harris did not play.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 7, 2010 10:39 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks for the summary! Living in MN I had no way of watching it!

That’s exciting that Shields and Underwood had a couple of INTs. I really think this Shields kid might turn into something special. I watched a replay of the Badgers bowl game against Miami, and paid close, close attention to him on special teams, and as a dime back in certain situations. And I was really impressed. I’m almost positive that at the very least he can have an impact for us on special teams as a gunner, and possibly a returner because of his blazing speed (we’ve all heard about his hands though).

What’s also impressive about him is that he wasn’t really used as a Cb all that much for Miami. The adjustment he’s made as a Cb with us in this relatively short time seems pretty promising. Watching him in the 1 on 1’s video posted on Packers blog surprised me. He was usually in pretty good position because of how damn fast he is. It’s clear he still needs to improve on making a play on the ball but that’s something that can be improved.

I really hope we keep this guy this year. Let him play on special teams where he should have an impact, and occasionally give him some time at Cb. I think if we groom him the right way, he could eventually have make an impact as a Cb as well.

Hopefully the DL looking great has more to do with them actually being great then it has to do with our OL being poor. Obviously I’m optimistic and biased but it’s pretty clear how good Jenkins is, and it’s also clear that Raji has the ability to be very, very effective at NT. It has me thinking/hoping that our defense really improve this season cause lord knows we need it.

by packallday555 on Aug 8, 2010 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Shield’s interception was very impressive! It was his speed that made it happen. I believe the defense was playing a Cover 3 Zone, 3 man rush. Shields lined up against the 1st WR on the sideline. Not exactly sure of what routes the offense ran, but it was a spread shotgun formation with Matt Flynn and the 2nd team offense playing. They were at the 20 yard line ready to score. The WR on Shields did a short square in, Shields continued to drop back in zone like he was supposed to do. Flynn threw to a WR in the hashmarks at the 1 yard line. Shields was reading Flynn’s eyes the entire time, and using his “WR Instincts”, he managed to sprint from the sideline to the hashmarks and intercept it at the 1 yard line. The interception was returned 99 yards for a TD.

Lets just say that BJ Raji looked a lot like Kris Jenkins and Shawn Rogers (with his motor running) in the 3-4. Again, no sacks, but he was pushing the Center and Guard back. Then again, Scott Wells does seem to get pushed around a lot against the better NT’s and DT’s in the league. This was more of Raji being so good then anything.

Underwood does indeed seem to be approved. Not just off that 1 interception, but his coverage skills. I didn’t have a chance to really watch Pat Lee, so I’ll do that later today. I don’t think he was ever targeted. That could be a combination of excellent coverage or the QB simply never looked at the WR he was covering. The ball was usually out pretty quickly.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 8, 2010 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

His speed is a big advantage for him. He’s got the speed to recover or to close on the ball. You can tell it’s still new to him but the potential and ability certainly looks like it’s there.

Hopefully he can get penetration all season long. It would make things much easier on the secondary.

Yeah, from what I’ve read Underwood seems to have improved quite a bit. Makes me feel more comfortable about our situation at Cb.

by packallday555 on Aug 8, 2010 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

that indian dance went o forever!!!

ugh, but other than that a fun time

Oz on Swish HR celeb: "That's the way he is. Good for him, enjoy it. I wish he could do it for me, he was a very horseshit player for me.''

by OznCoop on Aug 7, 2010 10:48 PM CDT reply actions

Finley

Finley looks like a man among boys. In the scrimmage he reassured what I have been thinking all off season. I think He is going to have a year that Gates would be jealous of. I’m picking him damn early in fantasy and he’s going to be a steal

by the yooper on Aug 8, 2010 8:24 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

He's special, no doubt

and he could feel our love for him as indicated in his brief interview after the scrimmage. He had another solid showing.

Quarless dropped a pass in the endzone. He beat his man running on a seam route against zone coverage. He was all alone in the endzone, but he dropped it. It was a high and very difficult pass to catch though. He displayed his speed for sure on that play. He could be a solid player, just needs to come down with it. Finley wasn’t all that good as a rookie, so I don’t have any expectations on Quarless.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 8, 2010 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

I have high hopes for Quarless…just not this year. Maybe a little for NEXT year and definitely the year after that. Imagine this offense with another Finley on it!! Scary.

by TrevorR on Aug 9, 2010 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Same here. I remember watching Quarless at Penn State. He was a match up nightmare for teams with his size and speed. Sound familiar haha? I think he’ll take a while to develop, so I’m not expecting a whole lot this season. More so, next year and the year after that.

by packallday555 on Aug 9, 2010 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions

He just has to learn to catch the ball

That is all. LOL. I watched the Scrimmage a 2nd time yesterday out of complete boredom. Watching that pass to him a 2nd time, it was very catchable. I’m not too worried though and am trying to be optimistic about him because Finley seemed to drop just about everything going his way when he was a rookie.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 9, 2010 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

ITs tough as a rookie having to learn the playbook your assignment and everything else. Sometimes they are so overwhelmed that the simple things like just catching the ball become difficult. Just too much to think about and process that you can’t get out of your own way!

by Strohman on Aug 9, 2010 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions

the good news for Quarless

is that I think he’s going to make the roster unless he REALLY screws this up. The potential is just too great and we’ve had guys stolen from us that we tried to stash thinking their potential would be overlooked. EVERYONE is looking for a Finley, Gates, etc kind of receiver so if we stash him, he WILL get taken by someone.

by TrevorR on Aug 10, 2010 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Speaking of which...

Is Tyrell Sutton still with Carolina?

He couldn’t block for Rodgers at all, but he sure ran the ball well for us! It was like he ran behind a Zone Blocking OL for 10 years!

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 10, 2010 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

if he is, he’s stuck behind two guys that would start on about 90% of the teams in the league. I don’t see him having too much of an impact without an injury to Stewart or Williams.

by TrevorR on Aug 10, 2010 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

He's listed at the 4th HB on their depth chart

So that probably means he is battling for a roster spot right now and could be released after Preseason. Not that it matters though, the odds of him returning to Green Bay are slim to none. It’s true though, he’ll NEVER get a chance to start there barring injuries.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 10, 2010 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I don’t think Sutton will ever get a chance to start anywhere… He is too small for full time duty. Best role is as a 3rd down RB and returner!

by Strohman on Aug 10, 2010 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree...

Its very rare to see a guy his size see success as a HB. Not that it CAN’T happen, just very unlikely.

by TrevorR on Aug 10, 2010 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions

catching the ball?

minor detail!

by TrevorR on Aug 10, 2010 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

and now...

he needs to disappear for a while so everyone forgets about him. I want him back on my FF team this year but it sounds like his value is really climbing!

by TrevorR on Aug 9, 2010 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I would also like to add in....

that Graham Harrell does NOT have a weak arm! His arm strength in fact looked stronger than Flynn’s. I know that is Flynn’s knock too though. Harrell’s passes were nice tight spirals and very pretty. However, it’s not how pretty it is, but what the results are. He was intercepted by Underwood. Not a good pass, but it wasn’t God awful either. Hopefully he can make more accurate passes as he gains more experience.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 8, 2010 9:00 AM CDT reply actions

Harrell

I read sometime last week, either on JSO or GBPG that Harrell’s arm strength is still a big problem! Couldn’t find the particular article that mentioned it, but I’ll have to take the article’s word over your impression in a CONTROLLED practice…

Production is definitely more importants but don’t discount the way a ball looks when its thrown!!! In the GB winters and in Chicago when the winds are swirtling you simply cant discount how important a TIGHT spiral is!!! The only way to throw in windy conditions is to throw hard, TIGHT spirals. THose balls can cut thru the wind… And its not just a tight spiral, but one that has ALOT of revolutions, which is a measure of having large hands. Large hands give you the ability to get more revolutions. In the wind any flutter in the ball is exaggerated and causes the ball to float and flutter and losses accuracy!!! A tight Spiral w/ alot of revolutions is essential in windy conditions like Lambeau and Soldier are known for…

by Strohman on Aug 8, 2010 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I saw those reports too, but I’m basing this judgment on what I saw. I’m sure you’ll do the same for players when you see them. I don’t blame you though, because you didn’t see him play in GB yet. No, he doesn’t have an arm like Rodgers, but his arm was clearly a lot stronger than Flynn’s. If that helps clarify anything. I’m not ready to dismiss him early. I want to know if this guy can be a reliable backup and if he can play football!

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Aug 10, 2010 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions