Packers Daily Links 8.12.10

An article in USA Today calls tight end Jermichael Finley an overrated fantasy football option. That and more can be found in our look at Packers football...

On the calendar today, the Packers resume two-a-day practices with one in the morning at 8:45 a.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. ...

You might want to pass this article from Matt Pitzer at USA Today around at your fantasy football draft. In it, Jermichael Finley is called an overrated fantasy option. "The hype has gotten way ahead of production," writes Pitzer. "I've seen people drafting Finley as a top-five tight end. Sure, he had a nice five-game stretch to end 2009 and a great playoff game. But aside from one other 100-yard game, he had 10 nondescript games or was injured. That's more than half the season. While Finley appears to have tremendous natural talent, he is also in an offense with a host of other weapons, which will reduce his chances. With so many other great tight ends who have been much more productive than Finley, I love it when he gets drafted early." As long as he's healthy, Finley is easily a top-five tight end and more likely a top-three guy.

A realistic time frame about when a decision could be made about a starting left guard was created by Dan Parr of Pro Football Weekly. "The competition at left guard could linger for a couple of weeks, but the Packers would likely prefer to have the starting offensive line decided heading into their final preseason game," writes Parr. "Coaches aren't yet comfortable calling him a front-runner to start, but it's clear the Packers are feeling good about the decision to take Bulaga, who fell to them in the draft after some had projected him to be a top-10 pick." Even the third preseason game could be likely.

In another Pro Football Weekly article, Dan Arkush got Charles Woodson's reaction about undrafted rookie and fellow cornerback Sam Shields."He definitely has speed," Woodson is quoted as saying. "But he's also a young guy who hasn't played at this level. But the one thing you can't coach is speed, and he certainly has that. If he can get the defense down, he could have a future." Shields should only get better with time. I personally can't wait to watch him in preseason games.

An article about how n0-huddle sessions at training camp are helping both the offense and the defense is written by Mike Spofford on the Packers official website. "As [defensive coordinator Dom] Capers noted, the no-huddle isn’t necessarily a hurry-up mode, because the quarterback will stand at or behind the line of scrimmage sometimes for several seconds to try to get a pre-snap defensive read," writes Spofford on Packers.com. "So it’s important for the defense not to automatically react to the no-huddle by speeding themselves up unnecessarily." That's a very good point. Rodgers will sometimes take the play clock nearly down to zero.

Breno Giacomini is playing surprisingly well at training camp. "After two years of essentially redshirting after the Packers chose him in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Giacomini has shown so far in camp that he was worth the wait," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin. "He has been very good in the one-on-one pass-blocking drills and combination pass-blocking drills against the defensive linemen, and he’s been working with the No. 2 offensive line at right tackle while T.J. Lang – the presumptive heir to Tauscher at the position – has been working at right guard with the 2s and right tackle with the 3s for most of camp." The Packers will have a tough choice when determining to make him part of their 53-man roster or not.

A reminder that fullback Quinn Johnson is still behind Korey Hall and John Kuhn is provided by Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Johnson still is working behind both Kuhn and Hall in practice, and at least as importantly has yet to move up the depth charts as a special teams player," writes Dougherty. "Heading into this week’s preseason opener against Cleveland, Johnson isn’t on any of the Packers’ No. 1 special teams units, whereas Kuhn and Hall are established special teams starters."

Cornerback Brandon Underwood impressed "Jersey" Al Bracco during Family Night. "With the possible exception of Bulaga, I don’t think anyone impressed me as much as Underwood," writes Bracco. "Quite simply, the guy did almost everything right. While Jarret Bush, Pat Lee and DJ Clark did little of note (besides get beat), Underwood was everywhere. Showing solid coverage skills, breaking up passes, making tackles, beating punted balls to the punt returner and of course, taking an interception to the house. Until Al Harris makes it back to the field, I believe Underwood has a firm hold on the nickel cornerback spot." Seconded. Underwood was literally dominating on Saturday.

After looking at the Packers official depth chart, Monty McMahon of Total Packers isn't convinced rookie tight end Andrew Quarless will make the 53-man roster. "Reserving a roster spot for Quarless seemed to be a foregone conclusion when the Packers drafted him, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore," writes McMahon. I happen to think he'll find his way onto the roster somehow.

A list of free agents in 2011 is provided by the Journal Sentinel.

It's nothing you haven't read before, but AOL's NFL Fanhouse has an article on Bryan Bulaga.

Meat Packers Union takes a look back at Family Night.

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Comments (14)

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FITZCORE1252's picture

August 12, 2010 at 10:20 am

I'm kinda disappointed Q-Johnson doesn't appear to be making a case for himself. I like both Hall and Kuhn they are both steady FB's. I guess I was just hoping Quinn would emerge as the consistent 'Road Grader' we all thought he could be. Doesn't look like that's going to happen.

I've been keeping an eye out but have heard nothing new about Underwood's possible legal issue. I agree the kid looked damn good Saturday and he looks to be the 3rd guy back there, but it's sure gonna suck if this all comes back up in the next few weeks or during the season and charges are filed. Anyone have anything new in the last day or two on Brandon?

GBP 4 LIFE

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CSS's picture

August 12, 2010 at 10:26 am

While not completely writing off Quinn Johnson there's a greater theme emerging under the Less Miles as LSU's head-coach: all of his kids show up to NFL camps woefully unprepared for the NFL game, often immature and lacking even basic fundamentals of post-high school football.

Seriously, if I'm an SEC coach recruiting against him I point out how poorly he develops his talent. Seems to be an issue with Quinn. He has 'talent', but the NFL isn't intended to be a remedial teaching school for drafted players. On some level, they need to hit the turf running.

Cheering for him, but it looks like an uphill climb.

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PackerBacker's picture

August 12, 2010 at 01:14 pm

Agreed, especially with all of the talent at TE and the fact that MM likes to use TE's in the backfield.

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Franklin Hillside's picture

August 12, 2010 at 10:23 am

"Can't coach speed"...now waiting for Aaron to tell Charles Woodson that Travis Jervey was also very fast. ;)

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PackerAaron's picture

August 12, 2010 at 10:54 am

Are you saying that Travis was slow?

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Franklin Hillside's picture

August 12, 2010 at 12:06 pm

Not at all. Wasn't he the fastest guy in the league?

I just mentioned you that can't coach speed a couple days ago, and you reminded me that Travis was also a speedster.

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CSS's picture

August 12, 2010 at 11:11 am

Today's practice chat, comment on the notion that Sheilds could be talented AND undrafted:

"...but, from a big program like Miami, 'talented and drafted is rare'...."

No, no it's not rare. Miami is loaded with 4 star and 5 star recruits out of the southeast, yet the Randy Shannon era has seen few kids get drafted. Are they oozing talent, yes. Is it questionable how the talent is being developed, an even bigger 'YES'.

Sheilds was a 5 star WR recruit lost on the depth chart and had friction with the head-coach. Shannon did him no favors by waiting until his last year of eligibility to give him a try at DB.

No dude, it's not 'rare' for those kids to go undrafted, it's just unlikely NFL coaches/staff want to spend years developing guys on potential alone....you know, limited roster and all....

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PackerBacker's picture

August 12, 2010 at 01:17 pm

That's why we need a developmental league similar to the European league again. A place for these types of players to go and learn the NFL ropes.

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PackersRS's picture

August 12, 2010 at 12:03 pm

"Even the third preseason game could be likely." Exactly what I was thinking when reading that article. The 4th preseason games is just to warm up the guys. If the team isn't ready by the 3rd preseason game, there's something very wrong.

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Ron LC's picture

August 12, 2010 at 01:51 pm

I don't give a crap about "Fantasy Freaks" and their opinions. All I care about is that J. F. fits into the Packer O scheme and contributes to Packer wins. Statistics will be what they are, and I don't care if he wins or loses his stupid "Fantasy Game." Beyond that have fun wasting your time.

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dgtalmn's picture

August 13, 2010 at 10:51 pm

Ron LC I totally agree with you, I could go without hearing about it, but since I am a realist it is unfortunately here to stay.

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John Moravchik's picture

August 12, 2010 at 01:59 pm

Carriveau:

How many times do I have to ask? For god sakes man, interview that lawn mowing jack ass that got fired by McCarthy last year. I have an intense need to know what that moron has to say.

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PackerAaron's picture

August 12, 2010 at 02:08 pm

LOL- Trust me John. We've tried. Everyone has. We tried getting him to come on the show last year. He flat out refuses to talk to the media...

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Tony Wilson's picture

August 12, 2010 at 02:42 pm

That Pitzer guy who wrote that fantasy article is an idiot. He ignores that players who were hot at the end of last year we obviously not hot at the beginning of the year. What a moron.

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