Packers rookie defensive lineman Datone Jones powers through the pads during Saturday’s practice in Green Bay.
Jim Oxley photograph
The Green Bay Packers opened their first padded training camp practice today under cloudy and cool conditions with the stands about 80 percent full.
According to the beat writers in attendance and tweeting their thoughts, there was a buzz in the air and an excitement among the players, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Standout performances today from rookies Datone Jones (DL) and running back Johnathan Franklin (RB) was noted throughout today’s practice. While it’s only the first padded practice of training camp, it’s good to hear the names of these rookies and to note that the defense is already playing at a high level.
Of course, it’s always the case that the defense is ahead of offenses at this time of the season, the Packers’ defense needs to get off on a strong start and carry it through the preseason games and into the regular season.
There were no serious injuries to note today other than a knee issue that Tramon Williams was having (doesn’t sound like it’s serious), cramping by LB Jamari Lattimore, and good news from the wide receiver front – seventh round draft choices Charles Johnson and Kevin Dorsey don’t seem to be serious and coach McCarthy expects them back soon.
On another note, McCarthy said that former Packer running back Ahman Green is completing a coaching internship with the team, working with the running backs under Alex Van Pelt.
So, with the third practice, and the first padded practice, history, it looks like the Packers have had a strong first three days of camp. Injuries have been minor and the rookies have had strong showings.
Here’s a blow-by-blow of today’s practice from the beat writers covering the morning’s session … thanks to all these guys for letting us out in the world follow along with all they see.
Those not practicing:
#Packers DNPs: Cunningham, Dorsey, Johnson, Harris, Richardson, Hayward, House, Powell, Tretter, Sherrod, Neal, Worthy. Lattimore activated.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) July 28, 2013
Full pads, high energy to start
Jeremy Ross starts with the kick return, then Cobb
Ross gets drilled by Sam Barrington – Coach McCarthy lights him up because this is not full tackling drill
McCarthy not happy that LB Sam Barrington treating this as full tackling drill. It's not.
— Mike Vandermause (@MikeVandermause) July 28, 2013
Johnathan Franklin gets shot at returning kicks and is an instant like.
Franklin with a good approach on kickoff and showed solid burst. See what they like about him
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) July 28, 2013
Order for KO returners was this: Ross, Cobb, Shields, Nixon and Franklin TE Bostic from afar
QBs/TEs. A look at second-year tight end Brandon Bostick from afar: https://t.co/Ca2cQeSwvJ
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
You might be seeing more of this – Rodgers handing off to Franklin:
#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers hands off to RB Johnathan Franklin. https://t.co/tgK0UfG9mj
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) July 28, 2013
Defensive line coach Mike Trgovac tells his vets to give the rookies everything Johnny Jolly gets the praise of Trgovac:
Mike Trgovac happy with Jolly in this drill. Working on different techniques along the line... https://t.co/90gKw7vMAN
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
Followed by rookie Datone Jones:
Rookie Datone Jones in the same drill... https://t.co/raho2Goo1i
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
One of the pleasant surprises in camp so far has been how good James Starks has looked:
James Starks has looked good, healthy in camp thus far. Needs it to stay that way #Packers pic.twitter.com/KKn3oFMA0B
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) July 28, 2013
B.J.Raji and Gren Van Roten get into the camp’s first shoving match.
Franklin runs hard as you can hear LB coach Kevin Greene in the background:
Johnathan Franklin in the same drill. Also OLB coach Kevin Greene already in pure form. https://t.co/JCj59T6KOm
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
Both Datone Jones and Brad Jones were active in practice today. Shoutouts from all the tweeters more than once. First musical interlude during timeout today = U2 Vertigo Alex Green, James Starks, and Cobb get action. Cobb drops pass, Green has 20 yard run and Starks looking determined. Even B.J. Coleman gets into the act today:
BJ Coleman nice throw on the run to Jeremy Ross, who made a nice catch.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 28, 2013
And the rookies Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin catch the eyes of the sportswriters for different reasons:
Nice example of Franklin's quickness when he bounced an inside run to the outside and got something out of nothing.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) July 28, 2013
Eddie Lacy just went down on an arm tackle by Jordan Miller. Bad.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 28, 2013
Jamari Lattimore was having a great day until this happened:
Lattimore down, being attended to by trainers.
— Mike Vandermause (@MikeVandermause) July 28, 2013
Mike Vandermause’s take on James Starks:
Starks showing some flash and dash. Nice run. He said yesterday he is healthy. Don't write him off just yet.
— Mike Vandermause (@MikeVandermause) July 28, 2013
Tyrone Walker, a Saturday practice standout without pads, had this happen:
Tyrone Walker hears footsteps, drops Rodgers pass across middle. One of the guys who stood out without pads.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
The first scrum of the camp:
Someone drilled Franklin a little harder than necessary and it created a big skirmish. Maybe the O should actually block for him.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 28, 2013
Here’s the result of the two backup quarterbacks:
Coleman to Myles White deep. Pass slightly under thrown, but Jarrett Bush gets beat anyway.
— Mike Vandermause (@MikeVandermause) July 28, 2013
Graham Harrell misses a wide, wide open Tyrone Walker on a post deep. Settled underneath and threw incomplete.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
Second “TV timeout; music is Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” No Mariano Rivera sightings.
Rookie Micah Hyde takes Tramon Williams spot with the number one defense.
Maybe we’ll see a lot of Rodgers to Finley this year? Like this?
Aaron Rodgers to Finley... https://t.co/A7QhjYSqX9
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
And how about this for a rookie lineman?
Bakhtiari with a nice job on Matthews. #Packers https://t.co/zsnR4Nn8Mz
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) July 28, 2013
Datone Jones just smoked Garth gerhart
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 28, 2013
Datone Jones had his moments in one on one pass drill. Bakhtiari also looked decent.
— Mike Vandermause (@MikeVandermause) July 28, 2013
Packers fans are great …
Stands not full but many spectators, maybe 80%, have stuck around 2 hours into practice.
— Mike Vandermause (@MikeVandermause) July 28, 2013
The kickers get into the act.
Crosby has the edge on Tavecchio kicking off. Tim Masthay actually took a few kicks, too. If Tavecchio won the job, maybe he'd kick off.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
This is why they practice …
James Nixon just picked off Rodgers and ran it back.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 28, 2013
They call this competition …
Walking back, Josh Sitton points to the DBs and voices his displeasure. McMillian jaws back at him.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
Last break features @davematthewsbnd “Funny the way it is.”
Cobb, Franklin, and Rodgers get in the act:
2-minute. Nice toss from Rodgers to Cobb down middle. Then Franklin leaps over pile for nice gain.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 28, 2013
And a nice way to end the practice.
And practice finishes up with a Rodgers touchdown pass to Boykin. Lofted in corner of end zone over Nixon.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) July 28, 2013
Mike McCarthy’s initial comments following practice:
Mike McCarthy on #Packers first padded practice: "I thought the adrenaline was very high and I thought the discipline level was very low."
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) July 28, 2013
MM on Datone Jones:
McCarthy: "I thought Datone looked very good, very comfortable. He's in good shape."
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) July 28, 2013
The new padding rule will be in effect at all practices:
MM: A padded practice for us we'll require both thigh and knee pads
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) July 28, 2013
MM on Latimore:
MM: Jamari Lattimore had an illness lost weight, probably did too much. Had cramps later part of practice
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) July 28, 2013
MM on the rookie RBs:
MM: I thought Lacy and Franklin both carried the pads well. I thought Johnathan had a couple big runs and big plays. Off to good start
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) July 28, 2013
MM says Ahman Green is serving an internship with the team, working under Alex Van Pelt MM on Johnny Jolly:
MM on Jolly: It's critical. You can't get inline work at the place you work out at. You can't simulate that. That's where JJ thrived
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) July 28, 2013
Here is the after-practice review by Mike Vandermause and Pete Dougherty oof the Green Bay Press Gazette …