Gut Reactions From Thursday's Training Camp Practice

Aaron's initial observations from Packers practice this morning. 

With a nod to our regular post-game feature, I thought I'd share some gut reactions from Packers practice today. It's impossible to see even a fraction of everything I want to, but these players/moments caught my eye. 

  • Keep an eye on undrafted free agent rookie linebacker Jayrone Elliot out of Toledo. He isn't getting a ton of reps, but holy smokes did this kid look good in every single drill. Violent hands. Great burst. A variety of moves. I'm not saying he's the second coming of Lawrence Taylor or anything, but man he flashes. Hope he gets a real good look in the preseason. 
  • Two receivers who need to make strong impressions early did just that today, with both Myles White and Alex Gillett having very good practices (albeit Gillett had a bad early drop)
  • Morgan Burnett was out with an ankle injury, which meant some quality reps for Sean Richardson, who made the most of his opportunity. Richardson has been a bit of the Forgotten Man when people talk about the safety competition, but after today, expect to see him get a few more reps with the starters. 
  • Which brings up a point about the old football axiom of players needing to make the most of their opportunities. Richardson certainly did that today. 
  • Someone on Twitter asked me if Colt Lyerla did anything of note. I don't even know if he practiced this morning. Don't remember seeing him do anything or stand out in any way. 
  • When the number one offense was practicing the hurry up offense with pumped in crowd noise (which is adorable, by the way, because it's barely louder than my daughter's iPad) rookie tight end Richard Rodgers was the lone tight end on the field. He seemed to get every check that Aaron Rodgers made. It certainly didn't look like it was too much for him. An encouraging sign. 
  • Speaking of the rookie Rodgers, Richardson gave him a nice little "welcome to the NFL" pop along the right sideline after he caught a pass in the flat and turned upfield. 
  • The Packers seem to be dead serious about using DuJuan Harris as their kick returner. He was the number one guy back on kickoff return the entire practice. He looks good too, but it's hardly live. Will be interesting to see what happens in the preseason. 
  • On one shallow crossing pattern, Davante Adams put a helacious move on Ha Ha Clinton Dix for some rookie-on-rookie crime. Adams looks the part in the Packers' offense. YAC for days. 
  • Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien are who we thought they were - namely, Flynn knows the offense and can move the chains. Tolzien has a big arm, limited mobility but seems to have progressed. On one play in particular, he did a great job of keeping his eyes downfield even as the backs of his offensive linemen were being pushed back into his lap. Tolzien remained unfazed, put a hand out to stop his teammate from being pushed into him, and fired a completion down the seam. Heady play for a guy who seemed to get easily flustered at times last year. 
  • After the offensive line got done with an early drill, James Campen spoke with Corey Linsley for a few extra minutes, coaching him up on some point or another. I know most have penciled in J.C. Tretter as the opening day starter, but don't write off the rookie out of Ohio State. If he can handle the calls, he sure seems to fit the bill from a physical standpoint. Good bend and leverage. Good hands. We'll see. 
  • Mike Daniels is pissed off for greatness. And he's letting everyone know about it. 
  • Another guy who was getting after it was Derek Sherrod. A few times, he played just past the whistle and gave guys as good as he got. I don't know how he'll look in games, but he's not taking any crap off anyone. 
  • The Packers have the most amazing people working for them. It's Disney-eque. I must have been told a million times today to "Have a great day!" It's like stepping back in time. 
  • I'll have a more gut reactions tomorrow. 
  • Go Pack Go. 

 

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Comments (21)

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RCPackerFan's picture

July 31, 2014 at 01:53 pm

Love the gut reactions. This is the type of stuff I love to hear. Who stands out good or bad.

I have seen a quite a few times the Jayrone Elliot has flashed. While all the preseason talk has been about Hubbard, it sounds as if Elliot has far and away outperformed him early on...

Right now i think its a 2 person competition for starter at TE between Rodgers and Bostick. From everything that i have been hearing, both players have flashed a lot. To date the only thing that I have heard about Quarless is he fumbled in a ball security drill.. That is the only thing I have heard of him.

I have been hearing alot of good things from both rookie WR's. Adams and Abbrederis. I can't wait to see them in preseason games...

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Idiot Fan's picture

July 31, 2014 at 04:00 pm

I can't remember the last time I was this pumped to watch some preseason games. I mean, it's been AT LEAST a year... :)

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2014 at 08:02 am

lol, no kidding right...

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4thand1's picture

July 31, 2014 at 09:44 pm

Richard Rodgers. I haven't heard anything negative about him yet.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2014 at 08:02 am

I'm really excited to watching him in the preseason. One of the guys I want to focus on for sure.

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DraftHobbyist's picture

July 31, 2014 at 02:02 pm

FANTASTIC ARTICLE!!!!! I can't wait to hear what you have for us tomorrow. If you could, I'd like to hear your opinions on Lane Taylor as he's a fringe 53rd guy if the Packers keep 9 OL's.

I'm getting the feeling Linsley will beat out Tretter, too. Tretter is coming from a smaller school, didn't play at all last year, is coming off an injury, hasn't practiced well, and people forget that he's converting from LT. Linsley came from the big school, has practiced very well, is physically imposing, played C in college very effectively, and is healthy.

At S, it's hard to ignore Richardson. His great practices are no surprise to me. He helps so much against the run. I think what is going to happen is a timeshare between Burnett, HHCD, and Richardson.

In the point about the "rookie TE", that was Rodgers you were referring to I'm guessing. Right now my TE rankings are Bostick, Rodgers, and Quarless. Quarless better get healthy soon.

I feel Flynn will beat out Tolzien. Tolzien has disappointed me so far. Fumbling balls, throwing INT's, missing WR's...Flynn has won us games. Stick with Flynn and put Rettig on the PS.

Thanks for the info on the LB. I hadn't heard much of him up to this point, so I'll have to keep an eye out for him.

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lebowski's picture

July 31, 2014 at 02:02 pm

I am really pulling for Sherrod.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

July 31, 2014 at 02:57 pm

Me too. That guy got totally screwed by a freak injury and never uttered anything negative publicly. He's still only 25 years old.

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EddieLeeIvory's picture

July 31, 2014 at 03:12 pm

If Sherrod can stay healthy (cross your fingers), he has the ability and size and strength to become that bookend tackle that Teddy envisioned when he selected him in the first round in 2011.
What if it happens, and Bakhtiari and Barclay are relegated to being backups?

Our safety play will, it has to, be much improved.

Speaking of Sherrod IF he stays healthy: the same can be said (hoped) for of Nick Perry.

Julius Peppers, IMO, is the most underrated player on the team right now. He still possesses greatness. We will see it.

This defense now has a lot of pieces, has assembled a talented roster.

Again, depends on injuries. But this team, law of averages right, deserves a relatively good-luck year or two.....

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PackerBacker's picture

August 01, 2014 at 01:09 pm

Bulaga's contract is up after this year. If we sign Cobb, there is a serious chance that we might not be able to re-sign him. They might need Sherrod to have a good year, especially because there is no guarantee that Bulaga will make it through the year healthy.

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Allan Murphy's picture

July 31, 2014 at 04:14 pm

It is heating up i like it mike d bring it dont piss him off omg scary !

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4thand1's picture

July 31, 2014 at 09:46 pm

Yes, the defense needs a fire lit under their asses.

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Jamie's picture

July 31, 2014 at 07:42 pm

I thought it was decided this write-up would be called "Gut Over-Reactions" beginning 2014 on a forward basis, which is definitely fitting for this one.

If you didn't even notice Lyerla practiced today, that's on you. Or is it really that it just sounds better to say you didn't even notice if he practiced?

You wonder why the Packers still refuse to credential you -- Mr. I prefer the bleachers when I coulda been on the field with the real journalists -- it's because you're full of $hit. Ex: Guess you also preferred not to attend the HC's post practice press conference? SMDH

Is it that big of a deal that you can't just say your BR credential guy didn't get you in for the practice/post PC?? I'd hope you would live through that serious a confession.

It's OK to be honest. Every statement doesn't need the added melodramatics, the added spin to make you look more important than you are. Just be you, otherwise your opinion will never truly be taken seriously.

Your welcome...

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Tommyboy's picture

July 31, 2014 at 09:06 pm

I hope the irony isn't lost on ya, here...

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4thand1's picture

July 31, 2014 at 09:47 pm

Who pissed in your cornflakes?

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JimTaylor31's picture

August 01, 2014 at 06:51 am

Yikes dude. Get a grip.

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Tommyboy's picture

July 31, 2014 at 09:02 pm

Aaron, I'm happy for ya. You've gotten more and more opportunities to write about what you love, and you've earned every bit of it and more. Yet, I can't tell you how much I miss the regular phrases of "Mike Daniels is pissed off for greatness." You make words bend in unique ways. I love great writing and you do what I wish I could. I dig.

Also, I wonder how Raji looked to you. I went to practice on Wednesday and thought he looked dejected early and flat late. Then, I read an article from packers.com (my mistake, probably) noting how great he's looking. Thoughts?

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bksfinest's picture

July 31, 2014 at 09:50 pm

Love the article. Its great for us out-of-state fans to get a sense of what's happening in training camp. Thanks!

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2014 at 08:03 am

And fans who live far enough away that can't make it to practice.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2014 at 08:15 am

Wayyyyy in Tx =(

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NorskPacker's picture

August 01, 2014 at 08:40 am

Excellent piece. Can't wait to see how Richard Rodgers transitions into the NFL this year. I hear you bksfinest, I rely on these articles for in-camp information, being an out-of-state fan too

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