Packers Training Camp: Post-Practice Comments from McCarthy (8/1)
Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke after his team's sixth training camp practice Wednesday.
By Zach Kruse
Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke following the team's sixth training camp practice Wednesday. Some highlights from McCarthy's comments in the post-practice press conference:
- Linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) and fullback John Kuhn (knee) were removed from PUP/NFI list and practiced in shells Wednesday. Per new CBA rules, the first two practices for a player must be in shells. Given the Packers practice timeline, both could participate in full pads during the Family Night scrimmage Friday.
- Receiver Tori Gurley left practice with a groin injury. No timetable or official diagnosis was given by McCarthy. He needs all the practice time he can get to make this team.
- Defensive end Mike Daniels is day-to-day with a knee/groin issue. Ryan Pickett was out while nursing a bruised knee. Receiver Curenski Gilleylen (quad) also didn't practice.
- McCarthy didn't think offensive tackle Derek Sherrod (leg) would be back this week.
- McCarthy didn't seem concerned with the issue of locked out officials. He expects a deal to get done.
- McCarthy did not speak with commissioner Roger Goodell, who was on site in Green Bay Wednesday, about Erik Walden's one game suspension.
- Wednesday's emphasis was on blitz/pressure, plus third downs.
- For the umpteenth day in a row, McCarthy mentioned cornerback Davon House. The second-year cornerback ran with the No. 1 defense again Wednesday. McCarthy mentioned he was more physical/aggressive today.
- McCarthy is very pleased with the growth of both D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor. He said he believes the quickest way to the end zone is still through the middle of the field.
- McCarthy thinks James Starks is getting better in pass protection, despite appearing to get hounded by Aaron Rodgers after a missed assignment Wednesday. Said when he uses leverage, he wins.
Other notes
Don't hold your breath on a Johnny Jolly return. Goodell said Wednesday that he wasn't even sure if the NFL had received Jolly's reinstatement request. Translated: Jolly isn't playing football in the NFL anytime soon.
Wednesday marked the last of the Packers' 8:15 a.m. practices. Thursday's full-padded practice starts at 7:00 p.m.
Greg Jennings returned from an elbow injury.
Starks appeared to have an off practice. He missed an aforementioned blitz pickup, and then heard about it from Aaron Rodgers. There was also a drop later in the 11-on-11 drills. Those kind of mental lapses can't keeping cropping up with Starks.
Mason Crosby has still yet to miss a field goal in live camp situations.
Clay Matthews beat Marshall Newhouse a couple of times during the team periods. I wouldn't be too alarmed. We haven't heard much of Newhouse this camp, and that's a good thing. He wasn't going to keep a talent like Matthews down all summer.
RB Du'ane Bennett (UDFA, Minnesota) received some second team reps with Alex Green being eased back and Marc Tyler still out with a shoulder bruise. Jarius Wynn, who picked off Rodgers yesterday, stuffed Bennett in the backfield on one play. Overall, the run defense was very good Wednesday.
John Madden was in attendance with Goodell. No word on if he thought Brett Favre was still in Packers camp. Former Packers GM Ron Wolf was also on the sidelines for most of practice.
Comments (14)
August 01, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Glad to hear daniels injury isn't too serious.
August 01, 2012 at 02:02 pm
Exactly what I was thinking!
August 01, 2012 at 02:21 pm
"We haven’t heard much of Newhouse this camp, and that’s a good thing."
I would rather hear that Newhouse was having a 'break-out' camp instead. If he can't protect AR's blind-side, GB's in trouble. I'm still not convinced he's the answer at LT. If he's not the answer then Sherrod has to be. Is there anyone else ??
LT and BU QB are GB's potential roadblocks to another SB appearance.
Can't keep blowing these opportunities. The window is slowly closing.
August 01, 2012 at 03:26 pm
Very, very slowly.
August 01, 2012 at 06:15 pm
Is there a limit for number of breakout players in TC? There seems to be quite a few...
August 02, 2012 at 01:56 am
Bulaga at LT, then whoever (Newhouse or Sherrod) at RT where Rodgers can see the rusher coming!!!!!!!!!!
August 01, 2012 at 02:22 pm
It pains me to think that our (presumably) best RB could be sidelined because he's unable to protect our franchise. But so be it if he can't get his nose into the action. I doubt if he's hesitant to mix it up as much as it's his inability to anticipate the play. We must have a blocker in there even if it's a TE or FB.
August 01, 2012 at 07:12 pm
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/03/30/2011-pass-blocking-effic...
I figure it's brain farts. 2 pressures allowed in 71 pass blocking snaps. Both were missed assignments. Both were sacks...
When Starks gets it right, he blocks. He needs to get it right all the time.
August 02, 2012 at 02:53 am
These people are humans. No RB in the world will get it right all the time.
August 02, 2012 at 11:53 am
Assignment-wise, they will. There's no excuse to miss an assignment. You're paid millions and you don't even know the offense? Specially in this offense where pass protection and ball security are more important than running production.
Starks, as the stats show, is a great blocker. All he needs to do is study and memorize the playbook and the assignment calls. They even separate his job in the nomenclature.
People are human but, newsflash, the world is not very forgiving...
August 01, 2012 at 06:29 pm
IS IT SEPTEMBER 9 YET?????
....
ok... HOW ABOUT NOW???
August 01, 2012 at 06:55 pm
Is AJ Hawk continuing his stellar form? As in jumping on piles seconds after the play has been called dead, OR being nudged out of position for every run play? Would be a travesty if he is on the 53 man roster and DJ Smith is cut to make room!
August 01, 2012 at 07:49 pm
Well, DJ isn't going anywhere... Although, it sure doesn't look like AJ is either, including the bench in favor of Smith. Which I admit I would like to see.
August 02, 2012 at 12:20 am
"No word on if he thought Brett Favre was still in Packers camp."
nice...