@Blair Kiel posted:He’s no Pete Townsend:
HIgh as a kite.
@Blair Kiel posted:He’s no Pete Townsend:
Who is no Ted Nugent...
Also a bit surprised by Garvin's release. He had some game experience, had a fairly solid season in 2021, but seemed to regress somewhat last year.
I figured he was OK in the rotation or emergency depth.
I wonder if he fell on the depth chart and wasn't pleased or if it was an injury settlement?
It matters how well you do a special teams for fringe players. Unsure of how well he did that last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLZktARByyE
Day 3 breakdown
“Hello, Mason?”
@PeteDougherty: Carlson goes 1-for-6 in 2 FG periods, all long attempts, from 45 to 53 yards into breeze (0 for 3 on FG between 45-49)
@ilcuqui posted:“Hello, Mason?”
@PeteDougherty: Carlson goes 1-for-6 in 2 FG periods, all long attempts, from 45 to 53 yards into breeze (0 for 3 on FG between 45-49)
Young team. Let the kid work it out and become our kicker for the next 20 years.
Mason is not taking phone calls at the nursing home.
@Blair Kiel posted:Mason is not taking phone calls at the nursing home.
Is he busy collecting volunteer hours for his faith based confirmation class?
Talking to Molly would probably be more fun.
@bvan posted:Talking to Molly would probably be more fun.
Talking?
From The Athletic:
Packers defense prevails, but Jordan Love has his best day of training camp yet
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Though it was ultimately the Packers offense doing post-practice up-downs after the defense won the two-minute drills to finish Saturday’s practice, quarterback Jordan Love had his best day of camp and arguably his best practice open to reporters in his Packers career.
He looked in rhythm, crisp and tight with his throws and capable of throwing on the move, something his predecessor perfected. After troubles with his deep ball on Wednesday while throwing into a noticeable wind, Love helped author the play of the day on Saturday, a 33-yard connection with wide receiver Samori Touredeep down the left sideline during the starters’ two-minute drill.
Love completed 16-of-22 passes across all 11-on-11 drills during the team’s third full-speed practice of camp, the last before pads go on Monday after a Sunday off day.
Translation: Love is a failure and the Packers' season is doomed. 
They're using Nixon on Offense!
Yeah. Why is our starting QB even there? Have we learned nothing in the last 30 years?
After Watson and Doubs, there is going to be some stiff competition at WR. Reed won't sit on the bench as a 2nd round pick. But Toure and Heath don't plan to just sit back.
Talked about this on today’s podcast. Absolutely celebrate Jordan’s awesome throw, but Toure has been great through the first week of practice. He’s taken a significant jump imo and looks to have a legit role on this team. https://t.co/DQVYK9D7tb
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) July 30, 2023
I thought today's practice was the best I've ever seen Jordan throw the ball at any practices I've attended. Apparently I wasn't alone.@BillHuberNFL: "First and foremost, this was one of Jordan Love's finest days in his four years with the team."@mattschneidman: "Today was…
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) July 30, 2023
Behind a paywall, some quick observations from the Athletic:
Five additional takeaways
1. If you thought head coach Matt LaFleur would hint at who his backup quarterback might be with how he structured the practice pecking order, think again. Each of the three guys behind Love — sixth-year QB Danny Etling, rookie fifth-round pick Sean Clifford and recent USFL MVP Alex McGough — all took reps right after Love on Saturday during different team periods. Etling followed Love in the first 11-on-11 period. Clifford made a couple of impressive throws late in practice, his most notable one a dime to recently signed undrafted rookie receiver Cody Chrest down the right sideline for a big gain. None of the reserve quarterbacks has been asked to do too much with their arms, which will change come preseason games when we’ll get a clearer picture of the backup job.
2. Rookie first-round pick Lukas Van Ness took his first snaps with the starters at edge rusher opposite Smith on Saturday. With Rashan Gary still on the physically unable to perform list while he rehabs his knee, the Packers have cycled in veteran Justin Hollins, second-year edge Kingsley Enagbare and now the No. 13 pick Van Ness with the starters along with the veteran Smith.
“We’re going to be moving guys all over the place,” LaFleur said. “And just because somebody’s running with the ones doesn’t mean that’s necessarily the case and vice versa when you’re running with the twos. I don’t want these guys to even think about the depth chart at this point.”
Van Ness, asked after practice about working with the starters in 11-on-11s, seemed to have taken LaFleur’s advice.
“Every day as a defense, we’re gonna focus on the little things,” Van Ness said. “Do the little things better than any other team in the country, whether it’s a first-team rep, a second-team rep or a third-team rep, we harp on that every play. Always gracious (to run with the ones), but again, it’s another opportunity to go out there and compete.”
3. My first official overreaction from Packers camp before the pads go on is that this interior defensive line is going to be much better than people think. Rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, along with returners Devonte Wyatt, Kenny Clark and T.J. Slaton, all made noise in the backfield on Saturday. On one play, the ever-vocal Slaton, the 2021 fifth-round pick, stuffed a Dillon run to the left and took another couple of steps before flexing in Love’s face. On another pass play, Wyatt pressured Love into stepping right into what would’ve been an easy sack for Enagbare. Pressure is coming off the edge so far in camp, too, courtesy of Smith, Walker and Ebagbare, who blew up an end-around toss to wide receiver Malik Heath on Saturday.
4. Rookie tight end Tucker Kraft exited practice early Saturday and was seen with ice on his left quad. Left tackle David Bakhtiari also bowed out early, but that may also have been part of his pre-planned modified practice schedule. Return man and nickel corner Keisean Nixon stayed down for a while after getting banged up on a punt return, but he later returned to 11-on-11s in the slot.
5. The Packers released outside linebacker/defensive lineman Jonathan Garvin on Friday, hours after the team’s Twitter account wished him a happy birthday. Garvin, a 2020 seventh-round pick drafted as an edge rusher out of Miami, was working with the defensive linemen to start camp and faced a climb to make the initial 53-man roster. He also didn’t show up to voluntary OTAs for the second year in a row.
“Unfortunately, sometimes it’s time to move on,” LaFleur said. “And I understand the timing wasn’t great in terms of it being his birthday, but you guys know, this business never stops.”
Packers will have their first padded practice tomorrow. Once pads go on, this is where the real assessments begin and the pretenders get exposed. Should be interesting to watch some of these camp competitions become a little clearer.
I hope Toure stays hot when he dons pads. It would be great to have a solid third option among these young guys. I know Reed will be pressing him, but Toure would also be able to go outside.
Packers signed center, James Empey, filling the slot vacated by the departure of Jonathan Garvin.
Not sure if it's Empey's birthday or not.
How long will the slot stay Empey before they fill it again?
That one is on your permanent record.
You're just envious you didn't think of it first.
He started it.
OK, no XBOX for either of you until your father gets home.
@packerboi posted:Packers will have their first padded practice tomorrow. Once pads go on, this is where the real assessments begin and the pretenders get exposed. Should be interesting to watch some of these camp competitions become a little clearer.
Happy First Day of Pads, everyone!
It’s a special day for all girls!
Wait, that didn’t sound right.
#Packers coach Matt LaFleur on first day in pads: "Now you start to play some real football."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 31, 2023
On his expectations: "The intensity is gonna pick up. Certainly, the rules of engagement change a little bit, in terms of being able to thud up if you get head up on a ball carrier."
Matt LaFleur on Jordan Love's standout practice Saturday: "It's never one guy. The guys around him played a little bit better, he was probably in some good situations. Ultimately, he went out there, and he delivered some great balls."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 31, 2023
Matt LaFleur indicates Christian Watson is picking up in camp where he left off last year as a rookie: "He just seems like a much more confident player, and I think we saw that take shape last year, maybe halfway through the season."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 31, 2023
Matt LaFleur on Christian Watson: "He is one of the most intelligent players that I've ever been around."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 31, 2023
My goodness that throw is gorgeous 😩😩😩😩 pic.twitter.com/M5wQaxHwdO
— Big B (@bigpackers4x) July 31, 2023
Imagine we use the middle of the field in '23. What a concept.
Quay all over an inside run by Aaron Jones.
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) July 31, 2023
Musgrave used as a big wide receiver on a crosser. Love hits him in stride over the middle. Fun little wrinkle that we will def see more of.