Packers Training Camp Practice Notebook, July 30: Lacy, Starks Impressing

As the Green Bay Packers took the practice field after their first off day of training camp, a few young players stood out as being particularly impressive. You'll notice that we mention Datone Jones, David Bakhtiari, Eddie Lacy, and James Starks in the notes below, and that's no accident - all reports on those players seemed to be very positive today. Here's what went on in practice.

• Good news, everyone! Cornerback Davon House was back practicing again today! (TS) Safety Chaz Powell practiced as well, marking his return from the PUP list (WH).
• Among those sitting out were DuJuan Harris (again [TD]), tackle Kevin Hughes (WH), and cornerback Tramon Williams (PD). Wide receivers Charles Johnson and Kevin Dorsey both sat out yet again (TS). James Nixon practiced, but was pulled to have his knee iced and did not finish the session (JW).
• Datone Jones must have impressed the coaches on Sunday, since he got the first snaps at defensive end in the base defense beside B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett (TS). He also completely bowled over T.J. Lang on an interior pass rush (TS) before Lang came back the next time and stopped him. However, C.J. Wilson took snaps ahead of Jones in the team running drills (TS).
• David Bakhtiari looked good against Jones, performing well against his fellow rookie in pass-rushing drills (TD) and performing well against Clay Matthews in 1-on-1 drills (JW). He did get beaten by Andy Mulumba on an outside rush though (JW).
• Micah Hyde got the first reps in the base defense today in Tramon Williams' spot (RD). That was a bit of a surprise, given Davon House's return to the practice field. Hyde looked good again today.
• Marshall Newhouse continued to get the starter's reps today, and he was noticed getting down field to throw a block (MV). As our own Jason Hirschhorn noted, it's a really good sign for Newhouse that he's finishing plays.
• There is a definite divide in the kicking competition, at least when it comes to kickoffs. Giorgio Tavecchio clearly is lagging behind Mason Crosby and Tim Masthay in terms of the depth of his kicks (MV).
• Nick Perry badly beat Johnathan Franklin in a pass-rushing drill (RD). If you're Franklin, being ineffective in pass protection is a sure way to avoid seeing the field, especially on third downs.
• Sam Shields made a nice interception in team drills today in coverage on Jarrett Boykin (TS).
• One guy I still think will make the team is DT Jordan Miller. He looked good shedding blocks in drills, as you can see in Tyler Dunne's Vine video here.
• Eddie Lacy showed off his power on a red zone running play, running through multiple tacklers on his way to the end zone (WH, TS). He had a total of three scoring runs during the red zone period (RD), showing the tough running that he's known for.
• ILB Terrell Manning continues to throw his weight around, this time laying a big hit on James Starks on a run up the middle (TD). Starks, on the other hand, is showing no hesitation to instigate contact (TS).
• Cornerback Brandon Smith had a rough practice today, getting burned for touchdowns on multiple occasions by the Packers' veteran receivers.
• Jerron McMillian continued to state his case for the starting safety job, getting the top reps and picking off a pass before breaking up another throw that led to an interception (MV).
• The Don Barclay experiment at center continued today, but by all accounts it is not going well. He skipped a shotgun snap to one of the quarterbacks in team drills and was pulled immediately (TS).
• Music played at the water breaks: "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons, "Rolling In the Deep" by Adele, and "Some Nights" by fun. It would seem that someone different is picking the music each day, and whoever had the controls today likes Top 40.

If you missed the explosion on Twitter last night, someone posted a very unflattering picture of Eddie Lacy to Packers.com which made him look...well, let's just say he looked really out of shape. Here is Tom Silverstein's take on that issue from practice today:

Lacy does look bigger but one thing to note is he's wearing a lower back pad. It does make him look bulkier.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 30, 2013

Silverstein was on a roll today when talking about running backs, as he dropped this gem about James Starks:

The Packers need to shut down Starks now because if he can be healthy for the regular season he's going to do some damage.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 30, 2013

After a no-huddle drill ended with an incompletion on 4th and 5 to Randall Cobb, practice was finished. Keep it locked here as we recap coach McCarthy's press conference after practice.

More from Acme Packing Company:

• Cheese Curds: Green Bay Packers News and Links for July 30, 2013
• Packers Sign Safety Chris Banjo and Receiver Omarius Hines, Cut Ryan McMahon
• Projecting the NFC North: the Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford
• Packers Training Camp Battles: Don't Give Up on James Starks Quite Yet
• Packers Training Camp Practice Notebook, July 28: Jones Impresses in Pads