Packers Practice Roundup - August 22, 2023

Rashan Gary does more in practice while Carlson has yet another brutal day.

 

MISCELLANEOUS:

Lot of nice performances today - Love, Valentine, Enagbare, Clark, Reed, Watson to name a few.  Herman

At least three false start penalties today.  One by Mugrave, one by Kraft, and one by Walker.  TGR

The mixing and matching opportunities within this offense with the WRs, TEs, and RBs from a formation and responsibilities perspective is so much fun to watch.  Bretl

Green Bay Packers place Tyler Davis on injured reserve. He will count $555K on their salary cap - it's very unlikely to see an injury settlement with a serious & lengthy injury like an ACL tear.  Ken Ingalls

Per his Instagram, the Packers signed CB Elijah Hamilton.6’1” | 209 | RAS: 8.79 | 2022 UDFA from LA Tech 2021: 190 boundary snaps | 186 ST | 10/22 comp | 16.3 YPC | PBU | 16/18 tackles 2023 XFL: 13/25 comp | 14.2 YPC | 2 PBUs | 11/13 tckls | 36 ST snaps.  Bretl

 

INJURY:

OL Jake Hanson (shin) has been waived injured. The likely end in Green Bay for the 2020 6th round pick. CB Elijah Hamilton takes his roster spot.  Demovsky.  [Hanson never was going to be OC #2 except in someone's imagination.  Waived injured means he gets a parting gift unless someone inexplicably claims him.  TGR] 

1)  Rashan Gary is, in fact, taking team reps today. A great sign for the defense.  [That's is the normal next step in returning from injury.  TGR]  2) DL Jason Lewan is not practicing because of a back injury.  S Innis Gaines returned from quad injury.  CB Corey Ballantine has returned to practice from his stinger.  T Caleb Jones has returned to practice from an ankle injury. He hasn’t practiced the past 2 weeks. A timely return.  [Jones needs to really impress over th next 7 days.  TGR]  S Tarvarius Moore's knee injury is a "day to day" thing.  Wood

Still no Nichols/Goodson. No Bakhtiari but Caleb Jones is back. Don’t see Jake Hanson, Henry Pearson or Dontayvion Wicks who were hurt Saturday.  No sign of Campbell, Stokes, or Melton yet either.  2) I don’t see Jason Lewan with the DL. Sounds like he has a back injury per PR. There is a release coming that the Packers will announce later today.  No Tenuta yet either, also expected.  Herma

Matt LaFleur says Eric Stokes is not ready to be activated off PUP. He would not make any projections on whether Stokes will remain on PUP after rosters are trimmed to 53 players next week.  2) Matt LaFleur is very pleased with JJ Enagbare's camp so far: "He's had a really solid camp. It's always fun to watch the jump some of these guys make from Year 1 to Year 2."  Wood

 

QUARTERBACK/WIDE RECEIVER:

Jordan Love with great ball to Samori Toure down middle. With safety over top, Love threw behind Toure so as to not get his receiver’s head knocked off. Toure made sliding catch coming back to the ball for 24 yards. Talk about WRs earning the QB’s trust. That’s the inverse.  2) Jordan Love has made plenty of targeted throws today, but he just missed an open Luke Musgrave on third & 7. Nobody around Musgrave, but Love’s throw was over his reach. Tough to throw taller than the 6-6 TE can reach.  3)Jordan Love comes back and hits an open Christian Watson on a slant. He hasn’t missed many open targets in this camp. 4) Next rep, Jordan Love steps up in pocket to buy time and finds Romeo Doubs open breaking toward the right sideline against Rasul Douglas. Throws it across the field, in a place where Doubs can catch and run. Hell of an off-schedule play from QB1.  5)  Nice, layered throw from Jordan Love to Christian Watson for about 15 yards. Watson ran an in breaker, foundations soft spot in the zone, and Love put it over the LBs, in front of the safeties.  Wood

Love deep to Jayden Reed. Carrington Valentine all over it. Ball hung up and fluttered a bit but great pbu by Valentine.  2)  Love from deep in his own end zone finds Jayden Reed on an intermediate crosser in stride. Looked like it would have been a big gain. Offense had settled in nicely.  Love just missed Doubs on a shot between corner and safety down the right sideline.  3)  More team: Nice run by Patrick Taylor up the middle. Brenton Cox all over a Wilson run. McGough hits DuBose in stride over the middle, dropped by 86. Watts and Bonds lineup in the wrong spot. That won’t help. Quick screen to Watts for a couple. Nice job by Mosby setting the edge and Hooper in run support. Run goes nowhere from McCrary.  Herman

Packers rookie WR Jayden Reed has run 14 routes this preseason. 13 of the 14 from the slot.  2) WR Romeo Doubs over 19 passing snaps this preseason: 4 targets 4 catches 3/3 contested catches 1 TD, 3 first downs 18.3 yards/catch 3.84 yards/route run 158.3 passer rating when targeted.  Kruse

Watching Jordan Love is going to be like a rollercoaster this year, according to Bill Huber.   

 

RUNNING BACK:

Aaron Jones just took a middle screen 80 yards for a td. Beautifully executed by the offense.  Herman

 

TIGHT ENDS:

Awesome blitz pickup by Josiah. Love finds Dillon for about 10ish.  2) I’ve been tough on Deguara but he’s had a really nice day blocking today. Nice blitz pickup earlier and now nice block downfield.  Herman

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:

Rasheed Walker still LT with David Bakhtiari not practicing. Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan and Zach Tom the rest of the first offensive line.  Wood

Myers is the center right now - Zach Tom & Elgton Jenkins are both more than capable starting centers. They've also spent parts of the offseason cross training Sean Rhyan & Jon Runyan Jr. Either Empey or Schneider will almost assuredly end up on the p/s. The Hanson injury doesn't change anything - I don't think he was making the 53 or p/s anyway.  [The Packers waived Hanson today.  TGR]  2)  Myers snaps a ball directly at a crossing Musgrave. The amount of snap issues this team has had in camp is alarming.  To clarify - Love in shotgun, Musgrave in motion - Myers snap hits Musgrave leg as he’s in motion. Not sure if it was cadence, early snap, late motion, etc… but it was ugly.  3)  Enagbare draws a holding penalty on Walker. Two of the stars from Saturday. Would have wiped out an awesome deep in from Watson on a great ball from 10 and a leaping catch from 9.  Herman

Rashan Gary did his first one on one rep of camp. Tom had a good set but Gary kinda threw a hump move on him got inside leverage.  2) Elgton Jenkins won vs Wyatt but the former first round is coming along man. Violent hands, power. Would’ve won against a lot of OGs in the nflHodkiewicz  [We like how Tom has looked in preseason, but who the competition is matters, even if it is a rusty Rashan Gary, or when Wyatt faces a good left guard in Jenkins.  TGR]

Hollins beats Telfort. Probably a sack. Clifford finds Watts over middle.  2) Banks with pressure. Complete to Taylor.  3)  Van Ness gives Tom some fits on bull rush, Love incomplete down right sideline.  Second team OL: Jones-Newman-Empey-Rhyan-Nijman.  Bretl

In his first start at LT (of the preseason), OL Rasheed Walker played 43 snaps and didn't give up a pressure (23 pass-blocking snaps), per PFF. Was also GB's second-highest graded run-blocker.  Kruse

 

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:

Kenny Clark immediately in the backfield on a handoff to Jones.  2)  Jonathan Ford shoots through the line for a tfl on Taylor. He’s fighting hard for a 6th dl spot.  Herman

OL and DL one-on-ones: Walker beats Hollins. Jenkins beats Wyatt. Slaton beats Myers.  Wooden beats Runyan. Gary beats Tom. Jones beats Enagbare. Brooks beats Newman. Ford beats Empey.  Rhyan beats Slayton. Nijman beats Van Ness. Banks beats Telfort. Moultrie beats Schneider. Rhyan beats Slayton. Jones beats Cox.  Bretl  

 

LINEBACKERS:

Love buys time after Enagbare and LVN collapse the pocket. Finds Doubs, throws high but Doubs goes and gets it and gets up field for a nice gain. Back to back big plays.  2)  Would be sack by Enagbare/Wyatt on Love. Hollins with a nice run stop on Jones.  Herman

Gary “sacks” Love but QB10 heaves a deep ball to Jayden Reed who made a beautiful over the shoulder catch.  Hodkiewicz [I think this is the same play as I listed under the OL section.  TGR]

Justin Hollins has 3 QB hits on just 13 pass-rush snaps this preseason. Enagbare dominated vs. NE and is PFF's No. 3 rated edge rusher. Lukas Van Ness had a few disruptive moments vs. NE. Brenton Cox has delivered pressures in both games. Packers have to be happy with OLB depth.  Kruse

 

SECONDARY:

On third & 3, Alex McGough hits Jadakis Bonds for a 91-yard touchdown Deep down the right side. Bonds got behind Kiondre Thomas in coverage.  2) More good coverage from rookie Carrington Valentine, blanketing Romeo Doubs down the sideline on third-and-3. Jordan Love overthrew Doubs, but there wasn’t much chance to complete that. 3) First rep of red zone, Keisean Nixon slips covering Christian Watson on a slant. Jordan Love hits Watson for 20-yard TD.  4)  Jordan Love drops a dime deep to rookie Jayden Reed on a fade ball down the right seam. Reed got behind Keisean Nixon, and Love dropped it over his receiver’s shoulder for a 78-yard touchdown. Can’t place it any better than that.  5) Nice play from rookie Anthony Johnson Jr., helping in deep coverage against Grant DuBose. Got over for the PBU on a Sean Clifford deep pass in something resembling a 7 on 7 drill.  6) Jordan Love missed Romeo Doubs in his lone deep shot in 7 on 7. Doubs was open behind Rasul Douglas with Rudy Ford helping in coverage, but Love overshot him.  Wood

Gaines gets up and deflects the next pass. Intended for Dillon in the flat.  Herman

I don't know who is starting at safety. You don't know who is starting at safety.  Mosqueda

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Anders Carlson’s first three kicks today: XP: good 44R: wide left 47L: good.  2) Anders Carlson’s next 3: 51L: wide right 52R: wide right 53L: wide left Bright side: He had plenty of leg for all 3.  Wood  [2 of 6 today.  TGR]

Again, wind is not easy to navigate today overall. Some pretty big gusts out at practice.  2) Cody Chrest muffs a punt. That might be the first punt that wasn’t caught clean all camp.  Herman  [Igather that the wind is making it tough to kick field goals and to catch punts.  TGR]

 

Photo courtesy of Geoff Burke, USA/Today Sports

 

 

 

 

 

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6 points
 

Comments (23)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 23, 2023 at 04:36 am

The big news is that Rashan Gary is no longer just working out on the sidelines or just individually. It appears that he is in good enough condition to beat Zach Tom one on one. Of course, that is a zero sum game: we fans want Tom to win even against excellent pass rushers in the vast majority of attempts.

Indeed, that list of one on ones had far too many defensive players beating offensive linemen for my taste. Since the OL has been very good so far in preseason games, one can hope that it is a sign of improvement by the defense, including he IDL.

I also agree with Bill Huber. Criticizing Jordan Love on CHTV has gotten too much backlash. I am happy with his process. I do think at worst he probably will be a fairly competent game manager. I'd be very happy if Love turns out to be (in 2023) an extremely competent game manager or something a bit better than that. Mostly, I'd like to see growth as the season progresses, and hope for him to blossom in 2024.

The Packers waived Jake Hanson. That's something I thought should have been done in 2021. Instead, GB paid him $660K to play 6 snaps. Inexplicably, GB kept him in 2022 in order to have him play 69 brutally bad snaps at a cost of $825K (plus an unknown injury settlement). Anyway, $1.45M too late, he has been waived. No one is likely to claim him, and likely he will revert to the IR until he can pass a physical or accepts a settlement.

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egbertsouse's picture

August 23, 2023 at 06:57 am

I haven’t seen much criticism of Love on CHTV. Maybe a couple of Aaron Rodgers holdouts. Most writers and posters are already fitting him for his gold jacket .
Drew Magary tells a story of a Packer fan who wouldn’t trade Love for Patrick Mahomes. The fan says that while Mahomes is “arguably” better than Love right now, he is older and has an injury history. That is closer to what I’m reading on CHTV.

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Coldworld's picture

August 23, 2023 at 08:01 am

Not being universally negative about Love is not the same thing as handing him entry to Canton. Sure there are some who are really excited, but I think the general impression from any source who had no predetermined conclusion is that Love has shown more in camp than expected, particularly in terms if his temperament and ability to process. It’s foolish not to recognize that. That doesn’t mean Love will be all pro by any means, but he also looks very unlikely to be a scrub.

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Coach Cleve Steamer's picture

August 23, 2023 at 06:46 pm

Love’s personality is showing. Growing into an effective pro qb. I haven’t seen a hint of the “yips” . I like it.

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jont's picture

August 23, 2023 at 04:36 pm

"I also agree with Bill Huber. Criticizing Jordan Love on CHTV has gotten too much backlash."

True, but it's pre-season, and optimism is 101%, and it is in large part because Love is looking good.

So, as Oddball said, like don’t hit 'em with them negative waves so early in the season. Think the wins will be there and they will be there. It’s another beautiful season, and it’s gonna be there.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

August 24, 2023 at 05:41 am

Upvote for the Oddball reference!

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HawkPacker's picture

August 23, 2023 at 07:05 pm

I love the fact that Gary is already practicing. I remember a few years back, we were short on good Edge players. Look at it now. I think we will keep 6 Edge players including Cox. They are all really good or they show that they will be in the future!

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

August 24, 2023 at 05:42 am

Our pass rush promises to be fearsome! Talent wise. Hopefully DC doesn't screw that up ...

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greengold's picture

August 23, 2023 at 06:10 am

Great stuff, TGR. I always look forward to your TC reports and summaries from our Packers beat writers all in one spot. Thank you for putting these together.

My biggest takeaway has to do with Tom at RT, Myers continuing to make mistakes at C, and no movement publicly in these practices.

We’ve seen Tom at C with the 2s and 3s. My guess and hope is that we see him with the 1s, Week 1 v. CHI.

Bakhtiari / Jenkins / Tom / Runyan / Nijman

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Coldworld's picture

August 23, 2023 at 08:11 am

I still believe Tom has not been our best RT this year. With Walkers rise, maybe not out second best either. After rewatching he was the third best T on Saturday. I think PFF was closer to right than most of the fan commentators (still excessive). I was impressed with Runyon’s run work. If that continues we are a lot better.

I don’t have confidence that they know what they are doing. Tom should be C. Nijman or Walker RT. Myers should be depth. I will say Rhyan had his best showing in pass pro. He may finally be coming in as a viable reserve.

We just released Hanson, a guy they eulogized as the great breakthrough talent from last year and insisted on getting on the field despite the results in pre season and in season. (It’s possible Gute had to step in, as the coaches had him as simply out with an injury). I see the Tom to RT as similarly idiotic.

Myers has consistently been the weakest link. Tom is not our best RT, but he is one of our best 5. Two wrongs compounding, not making things right. I see them refusing to accept the evidence, just as they did with Hanson last year and into this.

Butkus/Stenovich may be a bigger negative than Barry when all is said and done. Perhaps Stenovich was a great position coach because someone could check his weak points, perhaps he’s too hands off or a poor leader. Certainly the OL coaching has taken many steps back since that was his sole focus.

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greengold's picture

August 23, 2023 at 09:55 am

None of us knows what alignments the Packers OL are in during closed practices. I'm wondering if they aren't using Tom at C during closed sessions, since they've used him plenty at C with the 2s and 3s. I don't mind them using some stealth in keeping that a secret, if that is in fact the case.

If not, if they haven't been giving Tom reps with the 1s, I'd be shocked. Figure too, if Tom is in fact getting reps with the 1s, it might account for Myers being nervous, making more errors than we've accounted for or have seen in the past.

As to Butkus/Stenovich, again, we're seeing only what they've allowed us to see. The emergence of LT Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan and Caleb Jones seems to point in a different direction than what you're alluding to (though I get your concerns):

8/22 Practice one on ones OL-DL (per Paul Bretl):

Walker beats Hollins
Jenkins beats Wyatt
Slaton beats Myers
Wooden beats Runyan
Gary beats Tom
Jones beats Enagbare
Brooks beats Newman
Ford beats Empey
Rhyan beats Slayton
Nijman beats Van Ness
Banks beats Telfort
Moultrie beats Schneider
Rhyan beats Slayton
Jones beats Cox

I've been impressed with the sudden improvements through a year's development shown by all of Walker, Rhyan and Jones, and I think with a better set of players on either side of Runyan, he's going to show improvement as well. It's possible.

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LLCHESTY's picture

August 23, 2023 at 11:27 am

The snapping issues have occurred so often you just know it's going to rear it's ugly head in the regular season. It's almost like he has the yips at this point. Not really understanding why Tom isn't getting 1st team snaps at C.

Watched Wahle's breakdown of the offense and defense against the Pats. He really likes how Walker moves for a big man and showed a funny 3 snap thing on Tom where he gave Judon a shove and then Judon owned him on the next play.

https://youtu.be/66SCNff0zPE?si=aguLYI8EqM5yU2wm

The main takeaway I got from his breakdown of the defense was Wyatt has a long way to go. He mentions Wyatt's really poor technique on one play and I went back and watched a few more and there wasn't much to get excited about. I said before camp started I thought he should see a majority of his snaps at 3T. Not sure he's ready to play 4i or 5T, maybe Wooden can eat quite a few of those. They are normally only in base around 30% of the time so you're talking 25 snaps max.

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HawkPacker's picture

August 23, 2023 at 07:15 pm

I am finally in agreement that Tom should get a good look at Center. The reason is specifically Walker. He is playing a lot at LT and because of that, I think it best that Nijman goes back to RT, Tom to center. After Bahktiari comes back, we have him starting at LT, Tom at center and Nijman at RT. Walker backs up Bahk and if Nijman comes out with injury or whatever, Tom moves back to RT and then Myers (who was depth) goes back to Center. Now if Mount Caleb comes along, we are really rocking. Our guards are set with Rhyan as depth.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

August 24, 2023 at 05:50 am

Mt Caleb has been very dominant. Getting him back to 100% would be great! I can't imagine he's there yet, but of course we don't know ...

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T7Steve's picture

August 23, 2023 at 07:15 am

Those 1 on 1s are tough for the O-line but notice who's getting beat by whom.

I really hope these coaches have this figured out. I was just originally worried about the next man up and other backups, but now I'm even worried if they'll have the best five starting.

Seems even our O is starting to gash the D on crossers and middle stuff.

Thanks, TGR!

1 points
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stockholder's picture

August 23, 2023 at 07:50 am

I'd Let Clifford place the ball for Carlson.

4 points
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Untylu1968's picture

August 23, 2023 at 08:22 am

Good call! I've always believed that having a QB for a holder, was a better option, just incase something squirrely happened on the snap.

4 points
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HawkPacker's picture

August 23, 2023 at 07:16 pm

Stock, that could be a good call. That could possibly make the call for who to keep as punter much easier if we take the holder away from the punter!

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Coldworld's picture

August 23, 2023 at 08:28 am

Did anyone attend? Just how windy was it on the field yesterday. Did the winds visibly carry/move the kicks? It’s not how strong the wind is primarily, it’s variability in strength and direction and unpredictability thereof that really cause the problems.

One of the hardest things to learn as a kicker is how to judge gusty winds and adjust. It’s different based on each field too: stadiums or surrounding structures can change how the wind moves a ball. This could actually be a valuable learning experience and it’s something even the best struggle with. Teams often don’t kick field goals long at all in truly variable high wind conditions unless absolutely forced to. Was this that kind of day?

2 points
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greengold's picture

August 23, 2023 at 09:32 am

TGR an I were there on Thursday, and we know TGR was present yesterday from his comments. The wind was exactly as you described on Thursday, swirling, with strong gusts from different directions and very hard to really pick one direction that was most prominent. I'm guessing conditions were much the same, since TGR didn't differentiate.

Carlson didn't even drill last Thursday, but, there were all the fights, then the giant deluge that hit for what turned out to be just 20 minutes or so.

Lambeau Field and the elements throughout the season will present a learning curve for Anders Carlson. No doubt.

2 points
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stockholder's picture

August 23, 2023 at 10:22 am

My two Concerns Yet=
1. Bahk not practicing.
2. Campbells ankle & ILB Depth

They don't want to trade Bahk.
But I Keep seeing the Jets want him.

So why not a 3 team trade. -

Or just trade for Queen -
Balt. needs a CB

-2 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

August 23, 2023 at 11:31 am

Why trade for a LB that's terrible in coverage? Like, really terrible. I liked him coming out of college but am so glad the Packers didn't draft him.

2 points
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ImaPayne's picture

August 23, 2023 at 06:41 pm

Hanson was traded to the Arena league as a full back. HA. Hope his chin heals soon so he can chew again.

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