Notes From Day 3 of Mini Camp

[MickeyDavis]

Today's minicamp finale was the shortest practice of the weekend, lasting a little more than 90 minutes.

-- Offensive and defensive linemen caught punts from a machine as part of a ball security drill. Guard Junius Coston was the only player to muff his chance, though defensive tackle Corey Williams fumbled while running the gauntlet.

-- Receiver Robert Ferguson dunked a ball over the crossbar in the north end zone while teammates went through passing drills. Coach Mike McCarthy said earlier this week that Ferguson, recovering from a mid-foot sprain, should participate in organized team activities.

-- Fullback Corey White, an undrafted rookie from UAB who turned heads all weekend with his speed, took most of his reps today at halfback.

-- With starting cornerbacks Charles Woodson (excused absence) and Al Harris (back) out for the second consecutive practice, Will Blackmon and Patrick Dendy again practiced with the first-team defense. Frank Walker and Jarrett Bush got time at nickelback.

-- Guard Jason Spitz sat out again. McCarthy had said Spitz tweaked his back during the first minicamp practice Friday but said today that Spitz is nursing a calf injury.

-- Tight end Donald Lee took all the first repetitions with the starting offense, and Tory Humphrey also was ahead of veteran Bubba Franks at times.

-- A large group of running backs and receivers rotated in with the first-team offense during team periods. Vernand Morency continued to take all first reps, with rookie Brandon Jackson absent for the third straight day.

-- Rookie James Jones had an ugly drop during the first team period. After breaking free from coverage, his body became twisted, and Ingle Martin's pass bounced hard off his hands as Jones fell to the ground.

-- Martin connected with second-year receiver Shaun Bodiford on the play of the day. Bodiford outran Blackmon down the right sideline, and Martin hit him in stride inside the 10-yard line.

-- Reserve safety Charlie Peprah got an interception off a Dendy deflection during the first team period. Rookie quarterback Paul Thompson nearly threw another interception on his next pass, but Walker couldn't hold on. Walker also dropped a Brett Favre pass -- three throws after A.J. Hawk picked off Favre in the end zone -- during a 7-on-7 red zone period.

-- Hawk made an athletic play for his interception, stepping underneath Ruvell Martin and snatching the underthrown ball with both hands.

-- The competition between kickers Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby won't heat up until training camp, but they got their first and only chance of the weekend in a team period today. Working with the coverage units, each kicked off four times. Rayner's first kick was longer than Crosby's, but the rookie equaled or outdistanced the incumbent the next three times.

-- Not even Mike Stock puts, ahem, stock into his special teamers when they're wearing shorts. But for whatever it is worth, the first group on kick coverage consisted of: Jarrett Bush, Ruvell Martin, Atari Bigby, Jason Hunter, Tracy White, Walker, Aaron Rouse, Korey Hall, Michael Montgomery and Bodiford.

-- Ingle Martin was stripped as he tried to throw in a crowd during the final team period. Guard Daryn Colledge caught the ball on the fly and ran downfield, where he promptly fumbled into the hands of Cullen Jenkins.

-- Rookie tight end Clark Harris dropped a Jerry Babb pass at the goal line during the final team period.

-- Bush batted down a fade intended for Jones on the day's final play.

-- Finally, back by popular demand, here are some mostly meaningless passing statistics from today's team, blitz and 7-on-7 periods: Favre 3-for-5 (INT); Aaron Rodgers 3-for-5; Martin 5-for-10; Babb 2-for-6; Thompson 1-for-4 (INT). Like the rest of the weekend, Favre and Rodgers only participated in 7-on-7, and only Martin took part in all periods.

[Kcin11690]

-- Ingle Martin was stripped as he tried to throw in a crowd during the final team period. Guard Daryn Colledge caught the ball on the fly and ran downfield, where he promptly fumbled into the hands of Cullen Jenkins.

I wish I could have seen that...

[trwi7]

-- Receiver Robert Ferguson dunked a ball over the crossbar in the north end zone while teammates went through passing drills. Coach Mike McCarthy said earlier this week that Ferguson, recovering from a mid-foot sprain, should participate in organized team activities.

Did he pull a Bill Gramatica when he landed?

[eagle13]

Costin hasn't done squat in 2 full seasons. He's a cut waiting to happen.

I'm thrilled about White - hopefully he sustains when its real.

Our great FA Frank Walker behind both Blackmon and Dendy? Blackmon I understand. I was unimpressed by the Walker signing. Said at the time he was only slight upgrade over Dendy but maybe he's not even that. Hopefully Walker shows it in camp or maybe Dendy is tremendously improving.

[Reggie White]

Mickey Davis wrote: "Rookie James Jones had an ugly drop during the first team period. After breaking free from coverage, his body became twisted, and Ingle Martin's pass bounced hard off his hands as Jones fell to the ground."

This was the third rounder we could have given up for Moss ... reading this makes me more angry ... and frustrated ... and depressed ... oh wait, is denial next?

[Mags FTW]

Mickey Davis wrote: "Rookie James Jones had an ugly drop during the first team period. After breaking free from coverage, his body became twisted, and Ingle Martin's pass bounced hard off his hands as Jones fell to the ground."

This was the third rounder we could have given up for Moss ... reading this makes me more angry ... and frustrated ... and depressed ... oh wait, is denial next?

Settle down, it was 1 drop. Jason Wilde said he has been the most impressive rookie so far.

[MickeyDavis]

I also heard that Jones had a very good camp.

[Reggie White]

Don't worry ... I found my "happy place" again ...

[Neusch23]

I don't know if anyone listens to the FAN, but Harry Sidney was talking about how this mini camp was one of the uglies ones he has seen from an offensive standpoint.

He says that we are going to need our D to hold teams to 10-13 points a game if we are to have a chance to beat ANYONE....since our offense is one of the worst in the league.

[ReasonablySober]

I don't know if anyone listens to the FAN, but Harry Sidney was talking about how this mini camp was one of the uglies ones he has seen from an offensive standpoint.

He says that we are going to need our D to hold teams to 10-13 points a game if we are to have a chance to beat ANYONE....since our offense is one of the worst in the league.

That tends to happen when you have your 3rd string, 2nd year QB from Furman running the first team offense.

[Neusch23]

-= original quote snipped =-



That tends to happen when you have your 3rd string, 2nd year QB from Furman running the first team offense.

obviously you didn't hear him. He was talking about how well guys caught the ball. how crisp they were running the routes. how good they looked at the fundamentals.

This has nothing to do with who was behind center.

[ReasonablySober]

You're right, I didn't hear him.

[Icness]

James Jones is not an immediate solution to the WR problem--give him at least a season before writing him off. The guy has some talent but the ability to demonstrate it isn't always there, one of those guys you can see thinking before he does anything instead of reacting or being proactive. Typical small-conference rookie.

I was consistently impressed with Shaun Bodiford in his DET days. He's got all the makings of a pretty good #4 WR--good hands, good football IQ, can run a little, good effort in blocking. He wasn't a good fit with the super-scripted routes and reads of a Mike Martz offense, but he's a guy who can find holes in zones and get open on broken plays and scrambles.

[Ayt]

Jones has apparently been very impressive overall in camp.

[Buck You]

Ferguson I think has to actually show he's worth something this year. If a third rounder can out produce him this year that is pretty sad.

[Neusch23]

Ferguson I think has to actually show he's worth something this year. If a third rounder can out produce him this year that is pretty sad.

I think fergy is gone....We should have moved him 3-4 years ago when we had the chance.