OTA's - Matthews Moves, Other News

Post #1 » by **MickeyDavis** » Wed May 23, 2012 2:54 am

Now that we've got something actually going on I'll start this thread to discuss this week's OTA's.

Green Bay -- The PowerPoint presentation captured the missed opportunities in Green Bay's playoff loss to the New York Giants. Dropped balls. Fumbles. For an offense that was mostly unstoppable all last season, too much went wrong in this 37-20 defeat.

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson said this message was delivered and then they left that game behind.

"It's tough. It was there for a little while but you have to move on," Nelson said. "We addressed it a little bit today and then we put it on the back burner. We know we didn't play our best football. That's what it comes down to. When you turn the ball over and drop the ball, you're not going to win -- especially in the playoffs. That's not what we did all year long and that was the most disappointing thing. You have to play your best football at the right time."

Over the next three weeks, the Packers will conduct nine organized team activities (OTAs). Players say the Giants loss is a distant memory.

To Nelson, the loss resonated a long time ago.

"We knew it. I knew it when we stepped off the field," he said. "We just put everything on the back burner and we're moving forward."

Here are some highlights from Tuesday's practice open to the media. We'll see three in all:

--- Clay Matthews is on the move. On Tuesday, first-round pick Nick Perry worked with the starters at left outside linebacker, while Matthews was on the right side. This switch was speculated at rookie camp May 11-13 when Perry was at LOLB. Now it appears Matthews will indeed flip to the right side. The past two seasons he has played on the left.

Keep an eye on this. Matthews may be roaming a lot more this year.

After practice, Matthews said the defense will look for specific match-ups to exploit. He hopes to move around to different spots this year.

"I hope so," Matthews said. "That's the plan. It's all about mismatches and preferable line-ups so whenever we can take advantage of that by playing on the right side, left side, in the middle, wherever you want me to play, we're about that. Hopefully, that's the case."

--- TE Andrew Quarless, RB Alex Green, OL Derek Sherrod, FB Jon Hoese, G Jaymes Brooks, DL Mike Daniels, OLB Frank Zombo and S Charlie Peprah did not participate. CB Charles Woodson wasn't at Ray Nitschke Field, but was working out indoors, coach Mike McCarthy said.

--- M.D. Jennings made the play of the day, intercepting Aaron Rodgers. It was a low, difficult catch by Jennings, who could be a darkhorse candidate at safety. With Peprah out, Jennings got the first-team reps next to Morgan Burnett over rookie Jerron McMillian and Anthony Levine.

--- The running backs group was slim without Ryan Grant and Green participating. Grant remains a free agent and Green is still aiming to return for training camp. It all means that James Starks will have an opportunity to be the top back. An ankle injury suffered against Tampa Bay Nov. 20 derailed him last year. He never quite got back to full strength. As expected, he was the starter Tuesday.

"Starks has played a lot and he's lining up there right now," offensive coordinator Tom Clements said. "We have some new additions. Brandon Saine is back. He did well in spot duty last year. So he should be better, James should be better."

--- Tight end Jermichael Finley may have put last year's playoff loss in context best.

“Fifteen and one was awesome and all," he said. "But once you get to the postseason, that’s when the men come out and the kids go to bed. We have to wake up and play ball.”

Speaking of Finley, he's happy a deal got done a long time ago and that he'll stay in Green Bay at least two more seasons. In February, the tight end inked a two-year, $14 million contract.

“It was a great deal on both sides — 7, 7 ½, you can’t ask for more. I came into this league with nothing. I just wanted to hear somewhere around 7 and we would have been good. So it’s good for the organization and me.”

--- And to get back to the Super Bowl, it's no secret where the Packers must improve. On defense.

In addition to Perry, rookie Jerel Worthy got the first-team nickel reps next to B.J. Raji. Both players could play key roles -- right away -- in trying to improve a pass rush that had only 29 sacks and allowed more passing yards than any team in league history.

"From talking to the rookies from last year, they're saying how easy the rookies have it this year," Matthews said. "I think it helps them out tremendously coming in here and learning the playbook. That way, when they're in camp, they're not just thrown into the wolves. And they're getting that done right now. So they're learning trial through fire and that's exactly what we need. We need guys who can come in here and play off the bat," Matthews said. "So that's what we're expecting from these young guys."

mnWI · Post #2 » by **mnWI** » Wed May 23, 2012 6:48 am

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ ... um=twitter

Nice article on Graham Harrell and his focus on becoming stronger during the off-season.

LUKE23 · Post #3 » by **LUKE23** » Wed May 23, 2012 12:27 pm

Guessing our nickel looks like:

Raji
Worthy
Perry
Bishop
Hawk
Matthews
Woodson
Williams
Shields
Burnett
Jennings

With Hayward possibly getting in there. I'm loving the range and speed of that defense. I just really hope we don't see Peprah at safety much.

Post #4 » by **MickeyDavis** » Wed May 23, 2012 1:58 pm

I love that we're expecting the new guys to play and contribute right away. Throw them out there and see what they can do. Our defense can't possibly be any worse than last year. I also love the idea of moving Matthews around more. Could be very effective, especially if Perry is someone the defense has to account for.

trwi7 · Post #5 » by **trwi7** » Wed May 23, 2012 5:43 pm

MickeyDavis wrote:I love that we're expecting the new guys to play and contribute right away. Throw them out there and see what they can do. Our defense can't possibly be any worse than last year. I also love the idea of moving Matthews around more. Could be very effective, especially if Perry is someone the defense has to account for.

I prefer the Bucks way. Draft them and only give them garbage time minutes and let them learn from veterans like Carlos Delfino and Drew Gooden.

eagle13 · Post #6 » by **eagle13** » Wed May 23, 2012 7:55 pm

LUKE23 wrote:Guessing our nickel looks like:

Raji
Worthy
Perry
Bishop
Hawk
Matthews
Woodson
Williams
Shields
Burnett
Jennings

With Hayward possibly getting in there. I'm loving the range and speed of that defense. I just really hope we don't see Peprah at safety much.

Yeah I expect Hayward will see action in nickel - for sure dime.
IF Daniels & Manning are healthy they should get PT - especially Manning for Hawk in nickel. Daniels provides some snaps to rest Raj & Worthy.

Newz · Post #7 » by **Newz** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:25 pm

MOAR JENNINGS! MOAR SMIFFFF!

LUKE23 · Post #8 » by **LUKE23** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:29 pm

Newz emerges from under a pile of twinkie wrappers and energy drinks, having not slept in the past 267 hours.

Newz · Post #9 » by **Newz** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:30 pm

LUKE23 wrote:Newz emerges from under a pile of twinkie wrappers and energy drinks, having not slept in the past 267 hours.

Diablo 3 gonna Diablo 3.

Bucksfans1and2 · Post #10 » by **Bucksfans1and2** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:33 pm

Newz wrote:MOAR JENNINGS! MOAR SMIFFFF!

MOAR COBBINANCE! MOAR GREEN!

Ill-yasova · Post #11 » by **Ill-yasova** » Wed May 23, 2012 11:47 pm

mnWI wrote:http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/drill-sergeant-t85gtl9-152833435.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Nice article on Graham Harrell and his focus on becoming stronger during the off-season.

I liked what I heard and saw from Harrell last preseason and I'm expecting him to take a big step forward.

Bucksfans1and2 · Post #12 » by **Bucksfans1and2** » Thu May 24, 2012 12:15 am

If anyone is looking for insignificant rumors from which we can extrapolate conclusions, Diondre Borel apparently has Ryan Grant's locker.

Ayt · Post #13 » by **Ayt** » Thu May 24, 2012 9:25 pm

Bucksfans1and2 wrote:If anyone is looking for insignificant rumors from which we can extrapolate conclusions, Diondre Borel apparently has Ryan Grant's locker.

So we are moving Borel to HB? Interesting. I bet he pushes Starks for the starting spot.

El Duderino · Post #14 » by **El Duderino** » Fri May 25, 2012 12:08 am

Ill-yasova wrote:
mnWI wrote:http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/drill-sergeant-t85gtl9-152833435.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Nice article on Graham Harrell and his focus on becoming stronger during the off-season.

I liked what I heard and saw from Harrell last preseason and I'm expecting him to take a big step forward.

In watching Harrell last year in preseason games, i had my doubts that he could ever develop into a guy that could fill in at least somewhat adequately if Rodgers had to miss say 1-3 games like Flynn could. He just struck me as to small and to weak-armed.

If though he has put on some pounds and that can translate to some increase in arm strength, maybe he has a shot because he does seem to possess the needed smarts and accuracy.

BigDee · Post #15 » by **BigDee** » Fri May 25, 2012 1:54 am

Can't wait to see him in action during the preseason.

BigDee · Post #16 » by **BigDee** » Fri May 25, 2012 1:54 am

Can't wait to see him in action during the preseason.

Ill-yasova · Post #17 » by **Ill-yasova** » Fri May 25, 2012 3:19 am

El Duderino wrote:
Ill-yasova wrote:
mnWI wrote:http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/drill-sergeant-t85gtl9-152833435.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Nice article on Graham Harrell and his focus on becoming stronger during the off-season.

I liked what I heard and saw from Harrell last preseason and I'm expecting him to take a big step forward.

In watching Harrell last year in preseason games, i had my doubts that he could ever develop into a guy that could fill in at least somewhat adequately if Rodgers had to miss say 1-3 games like Flynn could. He just struck me as to small and to weak-armed.

If though he has put on some pounds and that can translate to some increase in arm strength, maybe he has a shot because he does seem to possess the needed smarts and accuracy.

For all of Flynn's accuracy the guy has a noodle arm. It never stopped Flynn from being a successful and I think Harrell has a better overall natural skill set to be a better QB if he can put everything together.