Camp Notes: Day 2
Some quick observations from the second practice of camp.
By PackerAaron
Another hot one at Ray Nitschke Field. Here are a few quick observations from the team's second training camp practice.
- It's been two days, they aren't in pads and none of this means much of anything yet, but I don't care. Amari Rodgers is a player. His athleticism jumps off the field.
- LaFleur already has him running a lot of the stuff we saw Tyler Ervin handle in this offense previously.
- Juwann Winfree looks so damn smooth running routes, including one where he got behind Amos and Sullivan by a full two steps to haul in a 50 yard bomb from Rodgers. The trade for Cobb makes the numbers game tricky at wide receiver, but if Winfree can crack some special teams units while producing big plays on offense, he has a legit shot.
- Tipa Galeai is a natural pass rusher. He had one rep in late team work where he put a spin move on Coy Cronk that was truly impressive. I don't know if he's big enough to hold up against the run, but he has some real pass rushing skills.
- Randall Cobb was at practice in what he told us later were someone else's helmet and cleats.
- Bailey Gaither had a fantastic catch where he was upended in mid-air and came crashing to the ground. He held on though. Tough play.
- You saw the good and the bad on display with Jordan Love today. The good: Ripping a pass in rhythm off play action, through tight coverage, for a nice gain to Devin Funchess. The bad: Floating a throw intended for Kylin Hill on a shallow cross that ended up being intercepted by Ty Summers. The throw was a bit high and in front of Hill but it was enough to send it off course and into a waiting linebacker's arms.
- Aaron Rodgers had an absolutely gorgeous deep ball to Davante up the left sideline for a big gain. A real Wow play. Darnell Savage almost made an incredible diving interception after covering a ton of ground from the middle of the field, but Davante came away with it for the huge play.
- Dennis Kelly, who bears a passing resemblance to David Bakhtiari, was at practice today...wearing Bakhtiari's jersey.
- Back at it tomorrow morning.
- Go Pack.
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Comments (23)
RCPackerFan
July 29, 2021 at 03:14 pm
I saw one comment made from someone else on twitter that said Slaton is unmovable in the middle of the DL. Obviously we have to wait until pads come on, but he is one intriguing player. They have been needing someone with some size in the middle of the DL. He could be a key player very early.
As for WR, without injuries, we have to figured the first 5 spots are locked. The question is do they keep 5, 6, 7? Who gets the 6th-7th spots?
Right now Adams, MVS, Lazard, Cobb and Rodgers are the 5. That leaves 1-2 spots for Funchess, EQ, Winfree, Taylor. Perhaps an under the radar guy like Begelton.
The WR position is a fun group to watch and see what happens this camp.
I have seen a few good things mentions about Kylin Hill early. Obviously pads need to come on, but I have been hearing he has shown some good wiggle and juice. He was my preseason pick to be RB3.
It sounds like Dennis Kelly has fit in well. Taking Bakhtiari's jersey in the first practice. This was a very good pickup though. Adding an extra veteran with experience is always a good thing. Especially at the OL position.
dobber
July 30, 2021 at 09:05 am
DL: Slaton being able to contribute early against the run will help. If he can wrangle some pass rush when teams decide to throw when he's on the field, all the better.
WR: AmRod flashing already in camp is a real plus. I think they'll keep his package of plays manageable so they don't overwhelm him early. I really expect it will be 6 WR (including Funchess) at the final cutdown and they'll keep only 3 TEs with Sternberger coming off suspension in a couple weeks. That all hinges on how Deguara looks when he's active. I think they try to get Dafney to the PS.
Kelly: You have to wonder how a guy with credible starting experience at both tackle slots made it on the market to late July. He might be the real coup of this offseason.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 30, 2021 at 09:58 am
I went to Titanswire. It was a surprise move, at least to the media. Worse, the Titans released Kelly in March. More worse, (or worser?) TN ate $3.1M in dead money, and only gained about the same amount in cap savings. TN is fairly tight on the cap, but not that tight. Worse than the worser above, TN drafted Dillon Radunz with the 53rd pick, but that was in April, so they dumped Kelly without knowing who they would get in the draft. IDK: Radunz is an interesting prospect but he did play for North Dakota State (turns out a lot of football talent but it just isn't the SEC), so can Radunz be penciled in as the starting RT? Looks like TN is banking on just that. TN does have David Quessenberry, who started half the season at LT and wasn't terrible (61 PFF) but wasn't good either. He is dirt cheap, though.
Still, Kelly has been in the news for years as a viable OT behind quality starters. Kelly started last year but this year Taylor Lewan returns. In prior years, they had Lewan and Jack Conklin.
Still think Kelly didn't come as cheap as some think. He didn't participate in practice yesterday (he was there and put on Bakh's uniform) so I think they need AR's restructure in place and official before they can practice Kelly.
Lphill
July 29, 2021 at 03:50 pm
2 days and Sullivan beat again .
stockholder
July 29, 2021 at 05:33 pm
I say Savage should replace him.
jannesbjornson
July 29, 2021 at 08:15 pm
That would be best. Savage as the Star and move King to Free safety to salvage his career. King has good range, but poor short area skills. He would be a better guy there than Dix was. Let Savage be a playmaker.
dobber
July 30, 2021 at 09:23 am
The only plus to trying to salvage King's career is the hope that some other schmuck will sign him in the offseason to a big contract. At this point, he's too valuable outside at CB to put him at S very much. Yes, I've seen that Stokes is taking a lot of snaps with the ones, but they're going to need another outside CB at some point and I don't know that they have any patience left for Jackson.
I'd like to think that with Stokes in the fold, they can use King to cover the likes of Kittle and Kelce when the time comes.
Bearmeat
July 29, 2021 at 04:19 pm
Man... this is a a very talented team. Hope they can come together!
mbpacker
July 29, 2021 at 04:27 pm
Nags- Thanks for being our eyes out there.
Alberta_Packer
July 29, 2021 at 04:52 pm
2 days - each day Bailey Gaither has a + mention. He is also a punt and kick returner. The field in the WR Derby are showing well.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
July 29, 2021 at 05:25 pm
Thanks Nags!
So nice back to football!
Coldworld
July 29, 2021 at 05:39 pm
Can Tipa cover?
if he can he could be the new Fackrell type. We need one.
Glad to see Gaither getting noticed, I think he will prove a keeper if probably on the PS. Ironic if Winfree is the loser from Cobb yet runs excellent routes.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 29, 2021 at 07:02 pm
Agreed. I'd love to know if he added good weight as well.
Tipa got tons of favorable mentions and did well in 1 on 1s in TC last year. But I never saw a tweet mentioning him beating any of the big 7 OL. It was always against 2nd and 3rd teamers. Today it was against Cronk - I know folks like him a lot but he again isn't in the top 7 OL.
Coldworld
July 29, 2021 at 07:45 pm
He’s tiny, or was, but Fackrell never bull rushed anyone. He just speed rushed when he didn’t drop in coverage. If Tipa has added strength he could possibly fit there.
mnbadger
July 29, 2021 at 07:34 pm
thanks for the quick takes Mr Nagler. Do they let you bring beer to the field?
PS - the best part of AN's take was that it only mentioned qb1's name regarding good throws and not the usual narcissistic bullshit.
GPG!
Leatherhead
July 29, 2021 at 08:11 pm
Thanks for these reports. When the pads go on, we’ll start to have a better idea.
This team is loaded.
Since'61
July 29, 2021 at 09:15 pm
Good job Nags. Keep it coming. Thanks, Since '61
Koostyroosty
July 29, 2021 at 09:33 pm
I attended practice today. From what I observed, in my opinion only, is that we have an abundance of talented young players at the OL & WR positions, We are going to cut some good football players. That is a good problem to have.
dobber
July 30, 2021 at 09:25 am
This is what frustrates me about the Cobb deal. The Packers need to be looking for guys who have a longer term future at WR with the team...especially with only one WR under contract for 2022 (technically Cobb is, too, but I don't see him playing out that year).
Thegreatreynoldo
July 30, 2021 at 09:38 am
GB is all-in for 2021. AR leaves in 2022. The rebuild starts next year. Probably see some of the older expensive players traded in 2021. Z ought to bring a draft pick. Turner as well. Maybe some others. GB gets its books in order. The seamless transition is a Disney movie.
We shall see. Maybe Love shines or AR stays in town for 2022. Gonna be hard to make the books work.
flackcatcher
July 30, 2021 at 12:21 pm
The Cap makes the call. Been that way since 2018. You can blame Murphy, or the Executive Committee for signing off on a contract for a player who was clearly on the down slope of his career. They gambled and lost. It happens. Gute made it clear that he was "all in" at his last presser after the season was over. His actions all up to and including reworking Rodger's contract prove that. What happens after this season is over (rebuild or reload) depends on too many X-factors which are simply unknown to either the front office, or us fans. So enjoy the ride. This may be the one time we see the Packers throw the dice and see how they roll. After that... (Seriously, this team is loaded. Don't see Gute being able to hide any gems this year -:)
Swisch
July 30, 2021 at 10:58 am
It's to be expected that Jordan Love will make mistakes as basically a rookie, so I'm more focused on the good plays that he makes.
The key over the next few weeks is whether he presents well as an NFL quarterback in the various skills that go into the craft of that position.
If we're patient and encouraging with Love as being so new to things and in such an awkward position with regard to Rodgers, then it could be a lot of fun watching him develop.
***
Out of all the quarterbacks taken in the last two drafts, I'm hopeful Love is pretty close to the top in terms of promise for being an excellent quarterback in the long run. He may have the best combo of passing and running of all of them.
It seems Lawrence and Herbert and Kyler Murray may be considered better prospects at present, but Love may turn out just as well. Out of all the other QBs in this grouping, I'd pick Love.
While admittedly we just don't know about Love as of yet, the same could be said of any of the others in terms of longevity. In the meantime, I think we do well to enjoy the ride with Jordan Love.
***
It's so exciting to read these Camp Notes. It's great to have football back on the field, and I'm pumped about the Packers pool of talent. Even Ty Summers had a pick!
Good job bringing the practices to life, PackerAaron. It's appreciated.
PatrickGB
July 31, 2021 at 04:20 pm
I think that down the road Love will probably turn out to be a pretty good QB. Of course he will not be close to Rodgers but pretty good. But, what this team will then have is more cap money for other star players.