Day 7 Notes from Packers camp
Observational notes from the Packers 7th day of 2020's training camp.
By PackerAaron
Apologies, but today's notes will be truncated. Just some stuff I saw today during practice inside Lambeau Field, not meant to be exhaustive in the slightest.
Injuries
Davante Adams was back and a full participant, to the point that he ran by me at one point and said "Told you" regarding his telling me not to worry when he got hurt earlier in the week.
Za'Darius Smith continued to be mostly an observer without pads, though he and outside linebackers coach Mike Smith were literally the first ones on the practice field working on some rushing techniques.
Rick Wagner was not in attendance today after injuring his left arm in Thursday's practice in Lambeau.
Jaire Alexander was not in pads and working mostly on his own early until taking his place on the sideline during team work with the defensive backs.
Montravious Adams was an observer with a boot on his foot.
MVS continues his strong start
After the offseason the Packers had, where they showed little sense of urgency at the wide receiver position, it was clear Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur were going to depend on the development of the guys they already had in the building. So far, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is rewarding their faith in him. Not only has the third year wide out had a good start to camp but he's put together two very strong practices, with today's outing featuring a number of catches over the deep middle of the field in team work. It's slowly becoming clear MVS is capable of being more than just a deep threat.
Jerry Gray is a teacher
I don't know what happened in Minnesota for Mike Zimmer to want to part ways with Jerry Gray, but I do know that he has been an obvious positive influence on the Packers young secondary so far in camp. Despite having been a coordinator twice, Gray seems to relish his job as secondary coach. There is not a moment in practice where he's not in the ear of one of his young players, including one rep where Kadar Hollman actually won, but Gray was quick to point out that his hand placement needed to be better.
Boyle is that dude
Don't get it twisted, the Packers have three talented quarterbacks in camp. While so much digital ink was spent chronicling the drafting of Jordan Love and what it meant for Aaron Rodgers, what was lost this offseason was the fact that Tim Boyle is entering a second season in Matt LaFleur's offense after a strong preseason last year. Needless to say, not only has Boyle picked up where he left off, but he is probably the most efficient QB in camp. Yes, including Aaron Rodgers. Now, obviously Boyle isn't going against the ones at all times, but he is ripping it in rhythm and showing a strong command of the offense. One throw today perfectly illustrated it, when Boyle took the snap, surveyed the field, found Darrius Shepherd cutting across the far right side of the field and let an absolute laser rip from the far hash. Just the latest in a string of big time throws from a guy who has been in command of the offense from the first snap on the first day.
That's it for today. If there's a player you're interested in that I didn't mention, be sure to check in on the Cheesehead TV YouTube channel every day for my pre-and-post practice chats. I try to answer as many questions as possible there.
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Comments (18)
NJ-RICK
August 22, 2020 at 05:03 pm
I'm hearing the CFL has given their players a chance to opt out for the season to join NFL teams. Any chance the Packers take a look at other CFL Defensive lineman or linebackers..?
Roadrunner23
August 22, 2020 at 05:15 pm
Thanks for the updates, very much appreciated!
PackfanNY
August 22, 2020 at 06:42 pm
Montravious Adams with a boot on his foot? Some things never change. Guy is always hurt. Might be time to move on from him.Can he really be counted on?
GLM
August 22, 2020 at 07:07 pm
He seems to be too susceptible to injury.
Bearmeat
August 22, 2020 at 06:59 pm
So... Boyle looks great. Awesome.
1. You've got to think the only way ARod is a Packer at this time next year is if he plays at an MVP level again.
2. I haven't heard much about the DL, or the right side of the OL, although perhaps that will be the case with only one or two padded practices thus far.
3. Wagner being out is not good. Gute obviously wanted to throw numbers at RT to see what stuck and he is/was a big part of that.
4. Great to hear that MVS is looking good. I'll believe that he doesn't suck when I finally see him put it all together for a month of real games. Ditto ESB.
GLM
August 22, 2020 at 07:08 pm
A-Rod will be QB as long as A-Rod dominates, and avoids injury.
Oppy
August 22, 2020 at 09:25 pm
What do we consider "A-Rod dominating"?
Packers were 6-9-1 in 2018, and 13-3 in 2019.
Statistically, Rodgers had a better 2018 than 2019. The only area he was better in 2019 than 2018 was in TD's- he threw one more TD in 2019. I point this out to illustrate that maybe there's more to winning games in the NFL than QB's putting up numbers.
With that caveat, Rodgers has been a good QB by the numbers in both seasons. Dominating? I don't know about that. He has ranked on the fringe of the top ten list in almost all categories (exception, INT %, where he is far and away #1), but in most QB stats categories, #8-#14. I'd consider being in the top 1/3 of NFL QBs for two years running as being a good to very good QB. I would not say dominant. Ultimately, there's a number of things Rodgers seems to consciously decide NOT to do that limit his dominance on the field. He's got the arm talent. It's up to him.
I'm ready to move on to a QB with perhaps less arm talent and experience who would probably be far more "all-in" on doing what the system asks of him.
Sometimes a dominant player doesn't do as much for a team as a team player.
GLM
August 25, 2020 at 09:19 am
I should have said something more like, "keeps winning and avoids injury."
Bure9620
August 23, 2020 at 07:50 am
Arod has not dominated for some time.....2014 Rodgers WAS very dominant......we will not see that player again...
dobber
August 25, 2020 at 09:43 am
That last 2/3 of 2016 was pretty damn good, too, but that was 4 years ago already...and that's a career to most NFL players.
dobber
August 23, 2020 at 05:38 am
"4. Great to hear that MVS is looking good. I'll believe that he doesn't suck when I finally see him put it all together for a month of real games. Ditto ESB."
He's had short stretches where he's looked good in the past, he just hasn't been able to maintain. Yes he got hurt in 2019, but early on, but no player makes it through 16 games without getting nicked up. A guy who can't perform unless he's 100% isn't very useful. He needs to put it together for a whole season.
Oppy
August 22, 2020 at 08:55 pm
Has there been a marked improvement in Tim Boyle's accuracy?
He has always shown impressive arm strength, and probably most importantly, his ability to sit in the pocket and read the field even as it starts to compress around him. That being said, the majority of his throws he's displayed in game-like situations have been the "put the ball in the vaccinity of the WR and let him go get it" type. Nothing wrong with that at all; it's something I wish we'd see 12 do a bit more of, actually.
However, what has been lacking in Boyle's game has been the ability to throw the ball to a point in space with accuracy. Putting the ball low and to the outside of the WR at thigh height when the DB is trailing and draped on his out route and the safety is bracketed over the top when you have to have it on 3rd down, that's the mark of a good NFL QB. Boyle has a lot of things going for him, but he has mostly displayed "put the ball in the vacinity of the WR" throws, not "Put the ball in the spot where the WR has the best opportunity to make the most of the play while limiting the defender's opportunity to interrupt the play" type throws.
Hope he takes that next step.
Bure9620
August 23, 2020 at 08:08 am
It is also part of the reason Boyle had 1 TD vs 13 picks at UCONN and 11 TDs vs. 13 picks at EKU......watch his college tap.......oof...he was atrocious and that is being kind........he had the worst Div 1 college stats of any QB making it to the NFL in decades......does he know the offense better than Love?....I would certainly hope so...obviously
....I do not believe Gute and MLF have the same love affair with Boyle others seem to.....I take the comments of Boyle is "lightyears" ahead of Love and "it isn't close" with a grain of salt. These people are watching practice with Tim Boyle colored glasses on......not surprisingly the same people whom hated the Love draft selection....
Oppy
August 23, 2020 at 01:50 pm
Yeah, Tim Boyle's college statistics paint him in the same light of Deshone Kizer. He was a pick machine his entire collegiate career.
That said, I can absolutely see the attraction to developing Boyle. He has some very attractive qualities. You can't teach arm strength, and he's got NFL caliber arm strength and then some. Also, as I previously stated, it is somewhat unusual to see a young QB come into the NFL and stay cool as a cucumber under center when the rush is coming and the pocket is collapsing, and Boyle has demonstrated that from the get-go. The game isn't too big for him at this level- at least not on the practice field or under the lights of preseason football.
All great reasons to keep Boyle as a backup if you have the roster spot and don't have a journeyman QB in the wings. I have no problems with Boyle, I just think people are definitely making him out to be more than he is at this point- he's a developmental QB who you wouldn't want to have to rely on to win games up until this point of his career. Has he improved to the point where he's ready to be a reliable NFL QB? Don't know, but he hasn't shown the whole skill set as of last season. Has much to work on. Here's to continued improvement.
Archie
August 23, 2020 at 09:13 am
I "love" having all 3 QBs on the roster. How long have we been complaining about the lack of a back-up QB in GB? We now have a great developmental prospect at #3, a #2 that knows the offense and has a gun, and a #1 that is HOF. It doesn't get much better than that at QB. Ditto our RBs and TEs. And I believe we will leave camp with 5 good WRs. Do we have a RT to replace Bulaga? That seems to be main Q at this point on offense. meanwhile, our ILB situation is looking better than it has in a long time. Ditto OLB. Ditto secondary. Can we find the help for Kenny Clark on the DL is big question there. Keke may be big part of that answer. All in all, Pack fans have got to be happy with the way things are looking. LaFleur may be a home run but let's wait one more season before concluding that. Sure glad we moved on from Ted Thompson/Mike McCarthy. Waited a year or two too long but looks like we may have gotten it right with Gute/LaFleur.
Bure9620
August 23, 2020 at 11:15 am
Why does having a gun and knowing the offense the qualifying criteria for being QB2? At some point, Love will also know the offense, just like Boyle. Tua Tongoviaola barely knows the offense in Miami and will start, same with with Burrow and with Herbert. Eventually, they will all learn their offenses.....and Frankly I am more taken with Love's natural arm talent and placement than Boyles....watch the film
NoNonsense
August 23, 2020 at 02:07 pm
Boyle has two training camps and preseasons under his belt. Love has had a virtual offseason with no minicamps or OTAs. Hes completed a grand total of what 7 practices now. If you really think Love makes a better #2 than Boyle at this point you're crazy. Tua and Hebert will most likely not be starters right away with Fitz and Taylor most likely getting the starting jobs out of camp in the first few games at least.
This is certainly not the year to rush a rookie QB into the starting position if you have any more experienced options. Plus Love might need a little bit more time to undo some of the riverboat gambler tendencies he developed last year with all the ints, a year after throwing only 6.
dorcassmith
August 24, 2020 at 01:04 am
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