Thursday, August 8, 2013
8:20 a.m. (Total: 1 hour, 47 minutes)
C Evan Dietrich-Smith
This was a no-pads practice that wasn't even two hours long. With the Packers preparing for their first preseason game, the team was far less hostile the day after multiple fights broke out. A good portion of the practice time was spent scouting against what the Arizona Cardinals will run in Friday night's matchup.
With no combo drills or one-on-one blocking or much hitting of any kind, starting center Evan Dietrich-Smith deserves recognition for playing the best version he can of a wide receiver. With no defense on the field, Green Bay ran a fake field goal with punter Tim Masthay rolling out and finding Dietrich-Smith deep downfield for a touchdown. It was a good throw by Masthay (who had a TD throw in an actual game last season) and a show of good hands by Dietrich-Smith to haul it in.
QB Vince Young
Rust is to be expected from Vince Young. He hasn't been in a regular season game since December 2011 and spent all of last year watching football from home. Well, that's barely even true, as Young said he sparingly watched the NFL in 2012. Now, Young is trying to learn a complex Packers offense in a short amount of time.
Young's on-field practice results aren't at the same level as fellow backup-QB competitor Graham Harrell. In Thursday's practice, Young threw several more erratic passes. During a jog-through period, Young was intercepted by wide receiver James Jones. Yes, Jones was playing defense, and yes, he picked off Young.
Running through a drill at nearly half speed, Young later overthrew Matthew Mulligan on a short pass. On the next play, Young was intercepted by Jarrett Bush. Young did have at least one positive play, though, lofting a nice deep ball to Jeremy Ross that should have been caught.- One of the most enjoyable moments of practice was watching left guard Josh Sitton play right outside linebacker in jog-through. As Sitton "rushed the quarterback," he pranced around and flailed his arms, clearly having as much fun as possible at a position that's not quite suited for him.
- Aaron Rodgers didn't take any snaps in team drills. The Packers gave those opportunities to the three quarterbacks competing for the backup job.
- With Tramon Williams and Casey Hayward still injured, the outside cornerback positions belong to Sam Shields and Davon House, with Micah Hyde in the slot. Pending an unexpected change, that is how Green Bay will line up for its preseason opener.
- There are eight players on both kickoff coverage and kickoff return, indicating they are the core special teams pieces: Jarrett Bush, D.J. Williams, Terrell Manning, Jeremy Ross, Jarrett Boykin, John Kuhn, Robert Francois, Jamari Lattimore.
- The two songs played during the team's water breaks: AC/DC, "Thunderstruck" - Zac Brown Band, "Country Fried."* OL T.J. Lang (Back -- First missed practice)* OL Andrew Datko (Concussion -- First missed practice)* OL Lane Taylor (Personal; Birth of child -- First missed practice)* RB Eddie Lacy (Hamstring -- Only did stretching -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 2)* TE Ryan Taylor (Knee -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 3)* TE Andrew Quarless (Quad -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 5)* CB Tramon Williams - (Knee -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 8)* WR Charles Johnson (Left Leg -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 9)* WR Kevin Dorsey (Leg -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 9)* CB Casey Hayward (Hamstring -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 11)* RB DuJuan Harris (Knee -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 11)* OL Derek Sherrod (Leg -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 11)* S Sean Richardson (Neck -- Consecutive Missed Practices: 11)* WR Jordy Nelson (Knee surgery -- Out the remainder of training camp)*OL Bryan Bulaga (Torn ACL -- Likely to miss the entire season)* OL J.C. Tretter (Ankle -- Likely out until midseason)* DL Jerel Worthy (Knee -- Likely out until midseason)* WR Sederrick Cunningham (Wrist Surgery -- Placed on injured reserve Tuesday)
* Friday, August 9 - 7:00 p.m. - Preseason game No. 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals* Monday, August 12 - TBD - Closed to Public (Training Camp Practice No. 12)
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