Packers Practice Roundup - July 22, 2024
Wicks, Clifford, and Rashan Gary stood out at the first practice of the year.
The Packers held a short practice today (1 hour, 18 minutes) due to restrictions imposed by the CBA. It was not padded as the players ease back into the swing of things.
NOT PRACTICING:
Jordan Love (contract holdout but Love is attending today's practice), Marshawn Lloyd (hip), Corey Ballentine and Caleb Jones (hamstrings), Reed (toe), Donovan Jennings (knee), Kitan Olapado (toe), and Tucker Kraft (pec). Zach Tom came off the PUP List but only did individual work. TE Tyler Davis getting some work after being solely in the rehab group during OTAs and minicamp. Gutekunst said that he expected Olapado to return soon and that the team was close to reaching an extension with Love. The Packers recently waived/injured Alex McGough.
PERSONNEL:
The offensive line was Walker, Jenkins, Myers, Ryan and Dillard from left to right. Per Andy Herman and Zach Kruse, Jenkins took multiple reps at center, with both noting that it seemed like more than normal cross-training due to the sheer number of reps Jenkins got at center. The offensive line with Jenkis at center was Walker - Rhyan - Jenkins - Morgan - Dillard (Herman). [I would note that Morgan played both tackles spots and left guard during OTAs and minicamp, so his insertion at right guard is new, and probably just cross-training.] Josh Jacobs and Emanual Wilson were at running back. Jacobs had a probable drop, but both had some nice runs. Musgrave was the starting tight end. Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt will split reps until Love gets signed. [The Packers usually roster three quarterbacks during training camp but they can get by with two for several practices. Picking up another quarterback might mean they are not as close on signing Love as they had hoped.]
Clifford threw a beautiful anticipation pass to a diving Dontayvion Wicks for a touchdown (Herman). Wicks made two wonderful catches. Heath dug out a low pass for a touchdown against nice coverage by Bullard. Doubs also caught a touchdown pass from Clifford with Bullard trailing. Paul Bretl noted that Clifford made two throws into very tight windows.
The starting defensive nickel personnel were Gary, Clark, Slaton, and Preston Smith, with Quay Walker (mike) and Edgerrin Cooper at ILB (though McDuffie got a lot of snaps, as well), Alexander, Stokes, and Nixon at CB and McKinney and Bullard at safety. While Cooper got the start, he did not get the quantity of reps that Bullard received. In the skeleton drills, McDuffie was the starter instead of Cooper but Bullard remained the starter in skeleton. Stokes got the nod over Valentine. Zayne Anderson rotated in at times for McKinney, per Ryan Wood.
Van Ness had a couple of pressures and Gary had two would-be sacks, beating Dillard both times. Colby Wooden also produced some push, per Bretl. [Wooden has said he has added some muscle and has bulked uo to 290 or 293. He was 273 pounds at the combine, so that would be a substantial weight gain in one offseason.] "Good heavens. T. J. Slaton just completely blew up a play by bulldozing Sean Rhyan and forcing Sean Clifford to spike it." (Schneidman) TyRon Hopper and Eric Stokes were all over a couple of runs and Kalen King had great coverage on Toure, forcing a throwaway.
Kicker James Turner hit an extra point and field goals from 38, 41, and 43 yards out but missed from 43 and 46 with Orzech and Whelan as the snapper and holder, respectively. He was 4 for 6.
That's it for day one. I altered my usual structure for this article since practice was so short. I do plan to return to my usual structure.
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Comments (33)
Thegreatreynoldo
July 23, 2024 at 03:37 am
Andy Herman described today's practice as pretty basic. The things that were surprising only become noteworthy if the trend continues. It is nice to see some guys shine but not worrisome if others didn't, at least not yet. Aaron said he thought pads come on for the first time this Sunday.
Let's see if Jenkins continues to get reps at center. The Packers already said that every lineman would get cross-trained except Myers. I didn't understand why since Myers is big enough to play guard. That would mean that Rhyan has to develop into the player the team thought he could be when they made him a third round pick and Morgan would have to be an adequate starter as a rookie. Not sure who the backup guards would be if Morgan and Rhyan were the starting guards and Jenkins the starting center. BTW, Slaton blew up a running play by bulldozing Rhyan. Still, wait for the pads.
If all goes as expected, I plan to attend Friday's practice.
Coldworld
July 23, 2024 at 07:31 am
I have to admit, this is the first thing I look for on the morning after a practice till the end of camp. Great to see these back! Thank you.
dobber
July 23, 2024 at 11:03 am
Agreed!
LambeauPlain
July 23, 2024 at 01:01 pm
Right there with you!
Leatherhead
July 23, 2024 at 10:17 am
Generally, there's no point in cross-training your starting Center. If he's healthy, he's going to play Center. If somebody else gets hurt, somebody else fills in, and your Center stays where he is. It's kind of the same as LT. If your starting LT is healthy, he's not going to play somewhere else.
If Myers were injured, we'd probably move Jenkins to Center, at least until the coaches thought Monk could do the job.
At tackle, we're looking good with 3 quality tackles, but we don't have any clue as to what we're going to get from interior linemen like Jennings, Monk, Glover, etc, Rhyan was a top 100 draft pick, he's been developing for two years, and if he can't play RG by now then this was a poor draft selection.
Slaton.....he's playing for the money; this is his contract year. He's never missed a game because of injury in three years. He's lining up with Kenny Clark on one side and Rashan Gary on the other. I think he's going to have a real solid year for us.
I can't believe the plan is to spend #25 on a quality LT and then move him to guard. I'll be amazed if that ends up happening.
dobber
July 23, 2024 at 11:06 am
"At tackle, we're looking good with 3 quality tackles,"
I think the fact that Tom is off PUP and active is a big plus for the OL and creates some opportunities to look at some of these OL juxtapositions with the 1s. Interesting that Rhyan was the LG with Jenkins at C, but he's the second most experienced G on the roster (surprise!), so maybe I shouldn't be so piqued by it.
Coldworld
July 23, 2024 at 01:53 pm
So far Dillard looks like he did last year. Tom and Jones are out, so I guess we are thin if they want Morgan learning G. It wouldn’t shock me to see Tenuta rolled out of Dillard doesn’t pick things up dramatically over how he’s looked the first few days.
GregC
July 23, 2024 at 04:50 pm
It's common for guards and centers to be drafted late in the first round. Just because the Packers hadn't done it in 30 years doesn't mean they were never going to do it again. We don't know how this is going to shake out anyway. Maybe Morgan could be a starting guard and a backup tackle. Or he could start at guard for a year or two and then move to tackle. He's athletically gifted, and he seems pretty smart and potentially versatile.
LLCHESTY
July 23, 2024 at 01:29 pm
IIRC in minicamp Newman was practicing with the ones but not getting a lot of snaps but I can't remember who the RG was with the twos. I'm with you on Myers getting some guard snaps. The center has to know everybody's responsibilities so maybe it's not as important for him to get reps as it is to get some of the younger guys used to playing on the right side. I do think a line of Walker, Morgan, Jenkins, Rhyan/Myers and Tom could be the best line.
Wahle has said more than once that you can have two weak links on the OL as long as they're not next to each other so either I'd like to see Rhyan take a big step this year or other options at C/RG.
Like TC these breakdowns are a welcome return. Thanks TGR.
briansmith4631
July 23, 2024 at 04:01 am
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GregC
July 23, 2024 at 05:45 am
I'm always surprised at the number of players who are injured ON THE VERY FIRST DAY of training camp, before they even start practicing. It seems like there are even more than usual this year.
Good to hear that Sean Clifford made some nice throws, after he ended OTAs on a bad note. Not sure what you mean by Josh Jacobs having a "probable drop."
The O-line shuffling is interesting, but at this point I'm just assuming that Jenkins is practicing to be the backup center.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 23, 2024 at 06:04 am
Josh Jacobs failed to catch a pass that he probably should have caught, at least in the opinion of the observer at practice.
dobber
July 23, 2024 at 11:08 am
I think they play it cautious with some of these guys who got dinged away from the team or in the offseason programs because starting inactive creates a lot more flexibility with later roster management.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
July 23, 2024 at 08:28 am
“Marshawn Lloyd (hip)”. What a complete bust. Gute needs to be fired!
PeteK
July 23, 2024 at 08:56 am
Don't stoke the holder. LOL
Doug_In_Sandpoint
July 23, 2024 at 10:01 am
Exactly.
Spock
July 23, 2024 at 10:30 am
TGR, Thanks for doing this each year. I'll second Coldworld's comment about this being the first article I turn to after a practice. I really appreciate being able to read all the observer comments in one place (i.e. your "usual" article setup for this). It really helps to get a feel for what the team players are doing.
Leatherhead
July 23, 2024 at 10:42 am
According to Acme Packing this morning, Royce Newman has had his contract renegotiated. Right now, he's our #7 OL and our first interior backup. How did he look in practice?
This is kind of depressing. And it's raining.
https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2024/7/23/24204392/green-bay-packers-...
Coldworld
July 23, 2024 at 11:24 am
Nothing guaranteed, just less money. I suspect that they basically gave him a choice to be cut now or take less salary. This early in camp that’s basically stating he’s not guaranteed to make the roster and if he does, it’s as depth. Cap savings and a clear statement that it’s now or never for Newman.
Leatherhead
July 23, 2024 at 11:30 am
It guarantees Newman will be in training camp, competing for a roster spot.
An injury or two, he makes the 53.
He makes the 53, he's probably going to be on the active roster. Which means he'll play, at least on special teams. And then he's just one injury from being a starter.
I've got a real bad feeling about this.
Coldworld
July 23, 2024 at 01:55 pm
He took a cut to get that chance is what it tells you.
Leatherhead
July 23, 2024 at 05:02 pm
Yeah, I know he's cheap. I know he's no good. He's had his chance(s). I don't understand why the Packers didn't just release him so he could sign with the Vikings.
Bitternotsour
July 23, 2024 at 05:12 pm
You normally are happy to defer to the coaches/pro personnel people. I recommend you do it again...
Leatherhead
July 23, 2024 at 06:20 pm
They say he’s better than a tackling dummy, but not reliable enough to be a starter or even a quality backup.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 23, 2024 at 06:57 pm
I think Newman has a great agent. This pay cut wasn't deep enough.
LambeauPlain
July 23, 2024 at 01:06 pm
Yeah...his minimum salary comes with just a $200K or so dead cap hit.
This salary cut confirms he's not a lock...far from it.
Packitin
July 23, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Dillard had (apparently) a tough day. Funny; I recall when the moves made to draft Dillard were hailed as yet more proof of Howie Roseman's genius. I guess even geniuses can have an off day...
Did I mention that I hate the Eagles even more than the Vikings, Bears, or Cowboys?
Bitternotsour
July 23, 2024 at 04:29 pm
That's weird. How can you not hate the Vikings more than the Eagles. Vikings fans are second only to Seahawk fans as the worst fan base. I suppose you could have a soft spot for them NEVER WINNING ANYTHING EVER. The Eagles at least you can hate because they've had a modicum of success (I suppose)
The Vikings are pathetic, maybe you feel some sympathy for them, I'm not so generous.
Leatherhead
July 23, 2024 at 04:52 pm
A tough day? On the first day? In shorts? Seriously?
I don't have a lot of hope for Dillard, but I can't imagine what would constitute a "tough day". I remember we'd run a couple of gasser and then do a lap around the field. The guys who'd been smoking all summer really stood out.
The 4th tackle. Dillard? Jones? Who? IMO, if Caleb Jones can't be put on the field after two years, it's probably time to move on from that. He'd be the 9th OL, for use in emergency only.
Packitin
July 24, 2024 at 06:01 am
"Been a tough start to camp for Dillard. [That is, Dillard gave up two or three sacks in today's practice."
Yeah, a tough day...
porupack
July 23, 2024 at 02:33 pm
Pardon me, guess I'm from a different generation and mentality. I had a demanding office job with no time for daily workouts and then was the perfect example of "weekend warrior" playing flag football, basketball, or tennis intensely trying to prove I still had it in me. 3 hours later, I was satisfied. It was fun. I gave it all, until someone else said enough. I did it well into my upper 50s. Granted, its a poor approach to not have regular conditioning, and clearly will lead to injuries, which I avoided for the most part. But, jeez. Really? Are these superb athletes sitting on the couch for 24/7 until training camp?
And these superb athletes are "eased" into football season with a practice lasting 1 hour and 18 minutes? I would like to respect these guys, but finding it rather ;;satisfiying to say some version of these guys are pusses. Do any coaches consider insuring that at the opening bell, the superb athletes better be ready to run at 100%, so be ready?
No wonder these guys aren't ready to really play until the 3rd game of the season. Training camp is more like "playbook camp" complete with roasting smores and group cohesion around the firering.
Leatherhead
July 23, 2024 at 05:00 pm
Most of the guys are already in shape. Some are recovering from injuries. You've got new guys and rookies. Our first game isn't for about 6 weeks, so we'll have dozens of practices and exhibition games to get 100% by then.
LeotisHarris
July 23, 2024 at 09:08 pm
Good stuff, TGR. Thank you!