Packers Training Camp News

Legendary senior writer Jclombardi highlights training camp news.

Training Camp. Credit: Evan Siegle GBPG.

1. Bush shines: His career has seen many ups and downs. He played a vital special teams role as a core player on those units but also a fair amount of fan criticism for his mistakes and big plays allowed on defense. Now, he’s taking his game as a cornerback to a new level  having a good camp performance.

2. Neal back—the Packers cannot replace departed free agent defensive end Cullen Jenkins with a single starter. Yet, one big player to help replace Jenkins returned to practice.  DE Neal returned to the full team 11-on-11 drills looking rusty.

3. Offensive line rusty–first, were the one-on-one drills. After a couple of decent performances, LT Chad Clifton got beat by LB Brad Jones. Then the flood gates opened. Mike Nealtrashed Caleb Schlauderaff; Jamari Lattimore breezed by Marshall Newhouse; Jarius Wynn zipped by Sampson Genus; Frank Zombo beat Ray Dominguez around the corner; C.J. Wilson ripped bySchlauderaff; and B.J. Raji took first-round pick Derek Sherrod‘s lunch money. Later, in the blitz drill, everything got mucked up on the line and the last five to seven snaps were a disaster. There were mental errors that would have gotten Rodgers beaten up. McCarthy said the line regrouped and had a better night than it looked, but it’s obvious the defense is ahead at this point in camp.

3. Defense shines–the defense got the best of the offense all night long. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 defenses also won in the 2-minute drills, stifling their offensive counterparts both times. 

4. Odds and ends–LB Erik Walden packs a punch when he’s over the tackle at the line of scrimmage. He has given Newhouse and Sherrod all they can handle in run drills. S Morgan Burnett has his ups and downs. On one play, safeties coach Darren Perry had to yell to him where he should be lined up. Then on the final play of 2-minute he did a good job of covering up the middle of the field and denying Rodgers a completion.

5. Practice schedule: Friday, the Packers practice in full pads at 7 p.m.