Notes from first day of mini camp
Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 2:22 pm
From the guys at the Green Bay Press Gazette. Good to see Ferguson hasn't changed.
_____________________________________________________________
-- Bubba Franks rotated in with the first-team offense during later 11-on-11 portions of practice today. Donald Lee, however, got the first rep in each series.
-- With Justin Harrell (arm) sitting out, Corey Williams got the lion's share of action alongside Ryan Pickett with the first-team defense. Colin Cole also rotated in. The absence of Aaron Kampman (knee) gave Michael Montgomery extended action at left end.
-- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (broken foot) sat out all team drills, but he looked confident throwing the football -- and moving in the pocket -- during other portions of practice. The most memorable throw was a spiraling strike to Carlyle Holiday that traveled 55 yards in the air. Rodgers rolled to his left on the play and did not appear to have any hesitation or difficulty setting his feet.
-- Not as impressive: third-string quarterback Ingle Martin, who could not have looked more uncomfortable running the starting offense while Rodgers and Brett Favre sat out the 11-on-11 periods. At various points, Martin hit Donald Driver in the back with a pass; was intercepted by Nick Collins on a pass off James Jones' fingertips; hummed another pick directly into the chest of Brady Poppinga, who returned it into the end zone; airmailed P.J. Pope on a simple route out of the backfield; and rolled directly into a blitzing Nick Barnett.
-- Favre threw an interception of his own during a 7-on-7 passing drill, underthrowing Donald Driver badly enough that Charles Woodson camped under the ball for a second or so before grabbing it.
-- Fullback Corey White could be the undrafted rookie to watch. After two catches, the UAB alumnus showed an impressive burst for a guy who stands 6-foot-1 and 239 pounds. And with only Brandon Miree seemingly certain to be in the rotation, White might carve out a niche in the coming months.
-- Perhaps in an attack on his "fake tough" image, tight end Clark Harris has shaved his head and face. The seventh-round draft pick also did some long snapping during a brief special teams period.
-- Allen Barbre is an offensive lineman, but that didn't stop Favre from razzing the rookie after drawing him offsides during an offensive drill. Barbre saw the majority of his action at left guard, the same spot the college tackle played for much of the rookie minicamp.
-- The No. 30 jersey looks strange when it's inhabited by Arliss Beach.
-- Robert Ferguson (foot) switched jerseys, from No. 89 to No. 87, but was in a familiar place: watching much of practice by himself from an end zone.
-- Jason Spitz grimaced as he tried to run after tweaking his back early in practice. It seems unlikely the coaching staff will let him do anything else this weekend if he feels any discomfort Saturday morning.
-- P.J. Pope fumbled in a crowd during one of the 11-on-11 periods.
-- Patrick Dendy got his first interception of camp on a bad-idea floater from recent pickup Paul Thompson.
-- Five players caught balls during a punt drill: Woodson, Will Blackmon, Shaun Bodiford, Greg Jennings and Jones.
-- The accidental hit of the day came courest of safeties Marquand Manuel and Nick Collins, who sandwiched tight end Zac Alcorn on a seam route.
-- Quarterback Jerry Babb drew cheers from his teammates by juking end Jason Hunter out of his shoes after scrambling toward the right sideline.
-- Running back Brandon Jackson wasn't the only rookie draft pick missing from practice. Linebacker Desmond Bishop was absent because California is on the quarter system. McCarthy said Bishop should practice Saturday.
_____________________________________________________________
-- Bubba Franks rotated in with the first-team offense during later 11-on-11 portions of practice today. Donald Lee, however, got the first rep in each series.
-- With Justin Harrell (arm) sitting out, Corey Williams got the lion's share of action alongside Ryan Pickett with the first-team defense. Colin Cole also rotated in. The absence of Aaron Kampman (knee) gave Michael Montgomery extended action at left end.
-- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (broken foot) sat out all team drills, but he looked confident throwing the football -- and moving in the pocket -- during other portions of practice. The most memorable throw was a spiraling strike to Carlyle Holiday that traveled 55 yards in the air. Rodgers rolled to his left on the play and did not appear to have any hesitation or difficulty setting his feet.
-- Not as impressive: third-string quarterback Ingle Martin, who could not have looked more uncomfortable running the starting offense while Rodgers and Brett Favre sat out the 11-on-11 periods. At various points, Martin hit Donald Driver in the back with a pass; was intercepted by Nick Collins on a pass off James Jones' fingertips; hummed another pick directly into the chest of Brady Poppinga, who returned it into the end zone; airmailed P.J. Pope on a simple route out of the backfield; and rolled directly into a blitzing Nick Barnett.
-- Favre threw an interception of his own during a 7-on-7 passing drill, underthrowing Donald Driver badly enough that Charles Woodson camped under the ball for a second or so before grabbing it.
-- Fullback Corey White could be the undrafted rookie to watch. After two catches, the UAB alumnus showed an impressive burst for a guy who stands 6-foot-1 and 239 pounds. And with only Brandon Miree seemingly certain to be in the rotation, White might carve out a niche in the coming months.
-- Perhaps in an attack on his "fake tough" image, tight end Clark Harris has shaved his head and face. The seventh-round draft pick also did some long snapping during a brief special teams period.
-- Allen Barbre is an offensive lineman, but that didn't stop Favre from razzing the rookie after drawing him offsides during an offensive drill. Barbre saw the majority of his action at left guard, the same spot the college tackle played for much of the rookie minicamp.
-- The No. 30 jersey looks strange when it's inhabited by Arliss Beach.
-- Robert Ferguson (foot) switched jerseys, from No. 89 to No. 87, but was in a familiar place: watching much of practice by himself from an end zone.
-- Jason Spitz grimaced as he tried to run after tweaking his back early in practice. It seems unlikely the coaching staff will let him do anything else this weekend if he feels any discomfort Saturday morning.
-- P.J. Pope fumbled in a crowd during one of the 11-on-11 periods.
-- Patrick Dendy got his first interception of camp on a bad-idea floater from recent pickup Paul Thompson.
-- Five players caught balls during a punt drill: Woodson, Will Blackmon, Shaun Bodiford, Greg Jennings and Jones.
-- The accidental hit of the day came courest of safeties Marquand Manuel and Nick Collins, who sandwiched tight end Zac Alcorn on a seam route.
-- Quarterback Jerry Babb drew cheers from his teammates by juking end Jason Hunter out of his shoes after scrambling toward the right sideline.
-- Running back Brandon Jackson wasn't the only rookie draft pick missing from practice. Linebacker Desmond Bishop was absent because California is on the quarter system. McCarthy said Bishop should practice Saturday.