Packers Daily Links: Woodson Incorporates Swimming Into Rehab
While recovering from his broken collarbone sustained during the Super Bowl, Charles Woodson has included swimming in his rehab. That and more in today's Daily Links...
As part of a feature article that focuses mostly on where Charles Woodson finds himself at this point in his career, we also learn that the Packers cornerback had incorporated swimming into his offseason rehabilitation program while recovering from his broken collarbone suffered during the Super Bowl. “Did a little more swimming, a little more water work," Woodson told Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. "Still did my boxing, and probably did more of that because I didn’t come up to Green Bay because of the lockout. I just did the water because it was convenient. Did a bunch of stuff in the water, a bunch of exercises. I think that helped out a lot.”
Rookie offensive lineman Derek Sherrod is under scrutiny in an analysis by Eric Baranczyk for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Something’s not connecting with the kid or the coaching," writes Baranczyk. "We’re three weeks into training camp and there’s no improvement." I think it's very unfair to say that of Sherrod this early into his career. He's a rookie that had no offseason training to learn the offense and has had to learn a new position at the same time. I'm not surprised by his development thus far. To say "something's not connecting" or intimate an issue with the coaching is premature. Baranczyk also says offensive lineman are made, whereas defensive backs, wide receivers and running backs are born, which I think is a disservice to all involved.
In a column at JSOnline, Tyler Dunne writes that T.J. Lang is the safer bet at left guard. "In theory, it makes perfect sense for coach Mike McCarthy to audition Sherrod at left guard," writes Dunne. "He has tried this before. After Friday night’s preseason game, though the experimenting should be over." Today's practice could be an indication of the direction the Packers choose to go at the left guard position.
Quarterback Graham Harrell is the focus of a feature at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel written by Lori Nickel, which is perfect timing given Harrell's solid performance in this past Friday's game. "Harrell's teammates say he's at his best when he's in the shotgun, the formation that helped him accrue 134 passing touchdowns and 1,403 completions at Texas Tech - the best in NCAA history - and 15,793 career passing yards, second best in NCAA history," writes Nickel. "Even behind Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn, Harrell's ability is starting to stand out." The question is now whether the Packers will hold a roster spot for a third quarterback this season.
The role of rookie running back Alex Green is contemplated in another column by Tyler Dunne at JSOnline. "As for that whole third-down role?" asks Dunne. "Here’s thinking, it’ll be Alex Green’s job to lose after Friday. Chastin West’s 97-yard catch and run was undoubtedly the highlight of the night but there may not even be a spot for him on the roster. Green’s 25-yard dance through traffic on a second-quarter screen pass was far more relevant to this offense, this season." If Green is going to be active on game days, he's going to have to get not only those pass protection skills under control, he'll have to contribute on special teams as well. Teams can't afford to keep many players active that only play a dozen or so snaps a game.
Long snapper Brett Goode has an article written about him at the Packers official website.
A column on defensive lineman Howard Green is penned by Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (6)
August 22, 2011 at 08:21 am
I completely disagree with Baranczyk. Sherrod is long, athletic, good hands and very quick feet. He gets beat like any other rookie (no more, no less). You can see the kids innate ability to recover. Even though a 1/2 step late now, it's natural for him. You can count on one hand how many rookie offensive lineman come into the league physically ready to play, and those tend to be guards.
Teams drafting a left tackle to play every down in their rookie year are in a world of hurt. The Roger Saffold's of the league (as a rookie) are almost non-existent at that stage.
August 22, 2011 at 08:57 am
Maybe Joe Thomas? With no off-season, this was too much to throw at anyone. New play book. Game speeds up. DL have more ability and moves. New position and flip-flopping. I don't know why Baranczyk wrote that, and I've been all in for Lang at LG for a while now. Now that the LG competition is all but over, the media just needs to focus on something other than Sherrod until next August.
August 22, 2011 at 09:04 am
That was one of the worst articles I've read in a long time. Right off the bat, the author says one of the biggest stupidities I've seen, when saying offensive linemen don't need inate ability. It only went downhill from there.
Had never heard of the guy, and will remind myself to stay away from his writing in the future.
PackerAaron
August 22, 2011 at 09:16 am
I actually really like Baranczyk's stuff - but agree this one was wanting.
August 22, 2011 at 09:48 am
"Nobody rolls out of their mom’s womb an offensive lineman."
Clumsy.
Inept.
Sad.
August 22, 2011 at 03:24 pm
I think Sherrod will be fine once he gets some time in practice and some games under his belt.