Training Camp Dope Sheet (via packers.com):
- Of the 88 players on Green Bay’s roster, 44 of them (50.0 percent) were drafted by the Packers.
- With 25 non-drafted free agents on the roster having started their NFL careers with Green Bay, 69 of the 88 players (78.4 percent) began their pro careers with the Packers.
- Nearly two-thirds of the players (56 of 88, 63.6 percent) on Green Bay’s roster entered the league as a sixth-round or seventh-round pick or as an undrafted player. Almost half of the players (43 of 88, 48.9 percent) on the roster were not drafted.
- Only 19 of the 88 players on the roster (21.6 percent) were selected in the first three rounds of the draft.
- Of the 88 players on the roster, 80 of them (90.9 percent) are 28 years old or younger (as of Aug. 1) and 53 players (60.2 percent) are 24 years old or younger.
Injury Report:
Unexpectedly on the injury list were cornerback
Casey Hayward
(hamstring) and defensive end Mike Neal
Also, running back DuJuan Harris
Others missing practice included cornerback Davon House
As expected, defensive lineman Jerel Worthy
Safety Sean Richardson
Video:
Mike McCarthy Post Practice Presser
Top Three at Training Camp: Vic Ketchman and Olivia Harlan
Photography:
Articles:
Mike McCarthy likes what he sees in first practice
packers.com
by Mike Spofford on Friday, July 26th, 2013
As for the action on the field, rookie cornerback Micah Hyde
The only blemish on Hyde’s great day was on the final play of practice, when James Jones
“If you’d ask me who was the one player who jumped out to me, I’d say it was Micah,” McCarthy said. “That’s something that you saw on his college film at Iowa. His ability to play the football, he has excellent ball skills, he’s a very good anticipator.”
Packers cornerback makes big play of his new career
packers.com
by Vic Ketchman on Friday, July 26th, 2013
...something inside Brandon Smith
Smith is one of the desperate dreamers, most of whom never have a moment as Smith did in the Packers’ opening practice of training camp. If he never does another thing, he’ll remember what he did on this day.
Let’s start at the beginning, 2011, when Smith was a wide receiver who failed to stick following tries with the Panthers and the Seahawks. Football, it appeared, was in his rearview mirror.
He spent the next two seasons out of the game, but it stayed in his heart. He wasn’t ready to quit on it. He decided to reinvent himself as a cornerback.
At 6-1, 205, Smith has the kind of size and speed that are rare to the cornerback position
Smith credits Whitt with providing the confidence Smith has needed in making the move to cornerback. It’s support that couldn’t have come at a better time, as Smith lost his mother this past May, the Mother’s Day month.
“We kind of connected and he saw my talent right off the bat. He’s been my confidence. His confidence in me is carrying me through this,”Smith said.
It was Smith’s dogged determination, however, that got the ball rolling. He worked his way into a super regional combine in Dallas, a platform for second-chance athletes, this past April. His performance there earned him a look as a tryout player in the Packers’ rookie camp in May, from which the Packers signed Smith to a contract.
His football odyssey, however, reached its zenith on Friday. He left Packers fans that jammed Ray Nitschke Field to watch Aaron Rodgers
Past the click, Smith deftly breaks down his interception. Freely admit I had no idea who this guy was till I clicked on the story. Not a bad way to start camp. Can't stack successes without a base to build on. With Casey Hayward a ways away he should have some opportunity for more snaps. Will be interesting to see what he can do with him.
News & notes from Day 1 of camp
packers.com
by Mike Spofford on Friday, July 26th, 2013
–No first-day jitters: The Packers’ three highest-profile draft picks said they didn’t have any first-day nerves to deal with on the practice field. Neither Datone Jones, Lacy nor Franklin did anything particularly eye-catching, but their enthusiasm for their first pro training camp was evident.
“It was exciting,” Franklin said. “We went through OTAs, so the nervousness got out then, and in rookie minicamp. Today was just learning and understanding the scheme of things, putting things together.”
Datone Jones brushed off even the idea of being nervous.
“I prepare very hard, so I’m very confident in myself,” he said. “I believe in myself that I can get the job done. I’m able to play fast because I know my assignments. I study a lot.”
“Practice without pads is always tough,” Lacy said. “You can’t really run through them, they’re just tagging off. When we get the pads on, it’ll be different. I think I’ll do pretty good with the pads on.”
–Sherrod hopeful: Former first-round pick Derek Sherrod says he feels “a heck of a lot better than at this point last year” in his recovery from a surgically repaired broken leg
“Just taking it a day at a time,”said Sherrod, who is thought to be a contender in the battle for the right tackle job should he return soon. “It could be tomorrow, it could be whenever, but I’m working very hard and making sure that I am doing everything I can to get out there as soon as possible with my teammates.”
Neal lighter, but waiting: Defensive end Mike Neal has been dogged by injuries throughout his career, but he called this latest abdomen injury that is keeping him out of training camp a “minor setback.”
Neal worked extensively at outside linebacker during OTAs and has slimmed down to help make the transition. He said he now weighs 275 pounds, down nearly 20 from his playing weight of a year ago.
“It’s more natural for me to be at this weight,” said Neal, a stalwart in the weight room throughout his football life. “I feel better at this weight.”
Neal said the coaches didn’t ask him to lose any weight but left the issue up to him. When he gets on the field, which McCarthy said could be a couple of weeks, it will be interesting to see if the Packers employ him more as an inside or outside pass rusher. Neal had 4 1/2 sacks last season as an inside rusher. continue
