Crosby, Jolly and Hyde also play well in Week 2 exhibition at St. Louis
By CHRIS HAVEL
Perhaps a week into training camp Eddie Lacy made a lasting impression during a goal-line segment of practice. The Packers’ rookie running back took a handoff, stayed patient and then lowered his shoulders pads and barreled through a tiny hole into the end zone.
In that single carry Lacy showed the attributes associated with good running backs. He combined vision, decisiveness, balance and explosiveness to get the touchdown.
In Green Bay’s 19-7 victory Saturday night at St. Louis, Lacy showed all that and more in an impressive debut in the Week 2 exhibition game. The second-round draft pick from Alabama rushed eight times for 40 yards including a 15-yard run that featured a spin move, two broken tackles and a lot for Packers fans to look forward to.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was impressed, if not surprised.
“If you go back to his college film and his ability to not waste any steps that is something that I’ve always looked for in a runner – particulary a good north-and-south (runner) with his body type,” McCarthy said.
“We wanted to give him some opportunities,” he added. “We visited with him before the game. I wanted to make sure that he was all the way back from his injury and I think that was evident tonight. He clearly took advantage of his opportunities.”
In addition to Lacy’s rushing yards, he also had an 11-yard reception and seemed to be competent in blitz pick-up and overall awareness. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers liked what he saw of Lacy.
“I think we’ve had quality running backs here in the past,” he said. “It’s just a matter of doing a better job of scheme that fits our personnel and the game up front and making the most of the athleticism we have with those guys.”
Rodgers added, “And then we have a back that has very good patience in Eddie. But there are six guys who have run the ball really well in camp. I think it’s a fun competition to watch and we’ll see what happens moving forward, but Eddie had a very good night.”
Rodgers was being diplomatic. James Starks has been OK, while Alex Green has been improved. Beyond that, DuJuan Harris has had minimal practice time and no game time, Johnathan Franklin has been mediocre at best.
That collective ho-hum is why Lacy’s emergence is so critical. If he can develop into the lead dog, which is why the Packers selected him with the 44th overall pick, it takes a lot of pressure off the other running backs, in particular, and the offense in general.
The offense’s ability to get defenses to bite on play-action is predicated on Lacy (or any of the backs) being more than just average. When the defense responds to Rodgers’ fake to Lacy, it opens up passing lanes for players such as Jermichael Finley to exploit. Finley had four catches for 78 yards. He was especially explosive after the catch, and seemed more focused than in last week’s game. Rodgers and Finley also nearly connected for a touchdown.
“On our side of the ball,” Rodgers said, “I thought Jermichael was awesome. He’s had a great spring, summer and camp, and I’m excited about his progress moving forward and the role he’s going to play in our offense. We need to find more ways to get him the ball.”
For his part, Finley is ready to roll up some big numbers with Rodgers.
“It felt good,” he said. “It comes from the chemistry that I have with ‘12’ and it’s started off pretty good.”
Asked what he can do to maintain that chemistry, Finley said, “Catch the ball and run your routes.”
Short, sweet and to the point – just like Finley’s game against the Rams.
Another strong effort came from Johnny Jolly, who is trying to put his life and his game back together, and appears to be succeeding. Jolly had an interception, and contributed to another by Jarrett Bush, in an evening that showcased his strong comeback. His stamina is up, as is his spirits, and his teammates are excited for him.
Rodgers said it showed in the way teammates were cheering for Jolly after the interception. Jolly also got good penetration inside on the pass rush, and also played the run solid. It was a strong step toward securing a roster spot.
Rookie Micah Hyde also bounced back in strong fashion. After giving up a 57-yard completion from Sam Bradford to Chris Givens, he rallied to get a near interception and play smart, active football the rest of the way. He added a nifty 13-yard punt return and defended two passes while also registering a sack. Hyde has positioned himself nicely for a spot on the 53-man roster.
In one of the marquee training camp battles, it appears Mason Crosby took a step ahead of Giorgio Tavecchio by connecting on 3-of-3 field goal attempts, while Tavecchio missed a 49-yard try wide left.
 

Harrell, Young also will battle
to capture the No. 2 QB job
By CHRIS HAVEL
 
GREEN BAY – Who stays? Who goes? For several Packers that question will be decided to a large degree by how they play in Saturday night’s second preseason game at St. Louis.
 
Packers coach Mike McCarthy put the onus on his players to win battles.
 
“The players have to make it clear who the starters are,” he said. “It’s not up to me.”
 
Here are five key matchups to watch Saturday night:
 

Kicker: Mason Crosby vs. Giorgio Tavecchio

 
Whatever edge Crosby had as the incumbent has evaporated. In what has become a straight-up battle to be the Packers’ placekicker, Crosby and Tavecchio attempted 18 field goals during practice. Crosby drilled 17 of 18 while Tavecchio was a perfect 18-for-18.
 
St. Louis’ dome provides perfect conditions to kick in.
 
Crosby kicked off to start the game last week. It will be interesting to see if Tavecchio gets the call this week.
 
The final decision on a kicker likely will go to the wire.
 

Receiver: Jeremy Ross vs. Tyrone Walker

 
In a perfect Packers world, Ross would emerge as the team’s No. 4 or No. 5 receiver and also handle the punt and kick return duties.
 
The problem is Ross continues to be plagued by inconsistency. Unless he earns the coaching staff’s trust between now and the final roster cuts – and that means few if any mistakes (drops, muffs, bad routes, fumbles) – will be tolerated.
 
Perhaps Ross will become a more reliable pass catcher in the next few weeks, but his penchant for drops likely will be his undoing.
 
Tyrone Walker catches everything thrown his way. What remains to be seen is whether he can get open, run precise routes and become a threat after the catch.
 

Right tackle: Marshall Newhouse vs. Don Barclay

 
Newhouse has started 29 of 32 games the past two seasons, a fact that can be viewed in one of two ways. With that much experience it would seem the relatively raw Barclay might have too great a challenge. On the other hand, Newhouse’s experience should make him more consistent, but that hasn’t been the case.
 
Whether Newhouse or Barclay nails down the starting right tackle job, the Packers should be OK there.
 

Backup quarterback: Graham Harrell vs. Vince Young

 
Harrell played better during training camp practices this week. Now he has to carry that into Saturday night’s game. He can’t afford to have another weak showing against the Rams.
 
Harrell’s edge over Young is his experience in the offense and his familiarity with all things Green Bay. The fact that he occasionally makes poor decisions is cause for concern. The other challenge for Harrell may be the simple fact that he’s maxed out his potential.
 
For Young’s part, he has made a solid start to unseat Harrell. Young completed several deep balls this week, and his athleticism and mobility are superior to Harrell’s.
 
Young has an opportunity to exceed Harrell on the depth chart with a strong showing against the Rams. It will be interesting to see how quickly he has assimilated the offense.
 

Running back: DuJuan Harris vs. Eddie Lacy

 
McCarthy has made it clear that Harris is going to get every opportunity to open the season as the No. 1 running back. Barring injury or a superb performance by Lacy at St. Louis, I believe Harris will win the job.
 
Harris was good enough to gain 48 yards in the first half of last year’s playoff loss at San Francisco against a strong defense in a playoff setting. Ultimately, McCarthy was the one who stopped Harris by giving him just two rushing attempts in the second half – both on the first series.
 
The best guess here is that Harris is the back on early downs, and Lacy emerges as the short-yardage/goal-line back. That means Johnathan Franklin would be the third down back, and either Alex Green or James Starks becomes the insurance policy.
 
That said, Lacy could force his way into the starting lineup on sheer talent if he shows big in the remaining preseason games.
 
Whoever is the starting back, it seems clear that McCarthy means to run the football this season, and he intends to do it well. There has been more focus on the run game and it will carry into the regular season. With McCarthy truly willing, it will be interesting to see if the running back stable is able.
 
 

Tavecchio, Harris and Young stake claims to job openings; Where was aggressive ‘D’?
By CHRIS HAVEL
The Packers have some excellent ongoing battles between the kickers, the running backs and the backup quarterbacks.
Before I get to those, I have to ask one question after Green Bay’s 17-0 loss to Arizona in Friday night’s preseason opener at Lambeau Field: Where was the tough, hardnosed, aggressive style we’ve been seeing?
All the talk was how the Packers were sick of beating on each other, which is why there were so many skirmishes during practice. Interestingly, when the Cardinals took the field the Packers didn’t seem nearly so fierce. There was no shoving, scraping of the pile or in-your-face action. It was more like a class reunion than a football game.
If the Packers are going to encourage physical play and allow emotions to rule practice time, if only occasionally, they also need to be able to carry it onto the field for games. That didn’t happen against Arizona.
If Friday night was the Packers’ idea of hardnosed football they might be better off sticking with finesse.
Now, on to the training camp battles:

Placekicker is becoming quite interesting.

Giorgio Tavecchio hit 8 of 8 field goal attempts in Monday’s practice, while Mason Crosby managed 7 of 8 with his only miss wide left from 46 yards out. After Crosby kicked off to start Friday night’s game, the kickers didn’t get off the bench. That puts extra pressure on them to perform during practice, and on Monday, Tavecchio was perfect.
“It was a warm day today, so the balls were flying,” Tavecchio said. “I felt like myself, Tim (Masthay) and Brett (Goode) were in a good rhythm with the snap, hold and kick. I have to watch the film to really see and dissect everything, because right now I feel good. But I always take a good look at the film and (try to) be unbiased. Take the lessons, the good, bad and if there’s any ugly, take that, too, and keep moving forward.”
The competition appears to be a stalemate at this point, although the longer Tavecchio sticks around, the more likely it is he’ll win the job.

DuJuan Harris returned to practice Monday…

… and the running back was excited to be back. After undergoing offseason lung surgery, and then being slowed by a sore knee, he aims to recapture the starting job.
Harris has a chance, too, what with rookie Eddie Lacy still sidelined by a hamstring injury. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Lacy underwent tests Monday, but that he didn’t have the results yet.
Meantime, Harris has a chance to claim the job for himself.
James Starks ran hard Friday night, but I couldn’t help wondering how much more either Lacy or Harris would have been able to pick up. Starks got what was blocked but little else. Harris, who is quicker, might’ve been able to get to the second level a couple of times.
Whether it’s Harris, Lacy, Starks or Alex Green who emerges, the simple truth is this: The Packers’ running back situation is light years ahead of where it was a year ago.

Can Vince Young Backup Rodgers?

Now that the introductions, auditions and debut are over, Vince Young can set about the task of becoming the Packers’ backup to Aaron Rodgers. If the coaching staff was settled on Graham Harrell there would’ve been no need to bring in Young.
It appears Harrell has progressed to the point where the Packers trust him enough to play him, but do they really expect him to win games should Rodgers go down?
My best guess is that Young captures the backup job and GM Ted Thompson goes with two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Third-string QB B.J. Coleman would be a practice squad candidate.

Green Bay’s loss not all bad: No points, but no injuries, either Plus Bakhtiaria passed with an A
By CHRIS HAVEL
For a night, at least, the Green Bay Packers’ placekickers weren’t outperformed by the competition.
That and David Bakhtiari’s sharp debut at left tackle were two of a surprisingly high number of highlights in an otherwise mundane event. The Packers’ 17-0 loss to Arizona on Friday night at Lambeau Field was short on drama, which isn’t all bad in the preseason.
The Packers’ play could have been crisper on several fronts, but they did have a number of notable individual performances. In addition, the Packers managed to avoid any significant injuries, which is priceless.
Furthermore, the much-debated kicking competition between the Packers’ incumbent, Mason Crosby, and challenger Giorgio Tavecchio, never materialized. Technically, Crosby has the upper foot given his touchback on the game-opening kickoff. After that, the Packers’ kickers weren’t called upon to kick off, attempt a point-after touchdown, or even try a field goal.
Meantime, the Cardinals’ Jay Feely and Will Batson were awful. They went a combined 1-for-4 on field goal attempts, reminding Packers fans that it can always be worse.
Here are several observations in the wake of the preseason opener:
James Starks’ 12-for-38 evening was encouraging, but the feeling here is that it’s more about the Packers’ improvement in the run game than it is about Starks. I found myself seeing Starks hit holes and imagining what a healthy Eddie Lacy would have done.
Rookie running back Johnathan Franklin is going to be a contributor this season. He plays smart, fast and decisive for a rookie. His hands are exceptional, his toughness surprising and his balance impressive.
Another rookie, Bakhtiari, continued to play in the preseason game the same as he has played during training camp. He was Velcro when contacted by pass rushers, and he played an amazingly clean game.
If he was intimidated, he didn’t show it.
“It was a good first game-like scenario,” Bakhtiari said. “I’m happy where I was but there’s room to improve. I didn’t feel overwhelmed, that’s probably the best way to put it.”
Asked if he had pre-game jitters, Bakhtiari said. “To be honest, I think I probably had more jitters in college than I did for this game. Like I’ve been preaching earlier this week, I’ve just kind of been trying to keep a level head and keep a calm mind about it – just playing my game and just playing left tackle.”
The Packers’ opening drive covered 86 yards in 12 plays. It was at once exciting and disappointing. It included strong running plays, a nice balance of play-calling, clean pass protection and big plays. Aaron Rodgers’ 50-yard completion to James Jones was a beauty. It reminded everyone that Rodgers-to-Jones is the Packers’ go-to passing combination. It was last year, and it’s going to be again this year.
The disappointment came when the drive fizzled at the Arizona 1.
With first-and-goal at the 6, Starks busted off left tackle for 4 yards. After two incomplete passes, Starks was stuffed after a 1-yard gain on fourth down.
The Packers’ offense managed just 137 yards on 54 plays the rest of the game. Graham Harrell connected on 12 of 19 for 76 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked twice, including one that resulted in a fumble and turnover.
Vince Young’s talent is obvious. So is his potential. Barring an unforeseen setback, Young has a great opportunity to open the regular season as Rodgers’ backup.
The Packers’ defensive secondary was out of sync and out of position way too much, especially after the first unit departed. The sight of Davon House wondering around the secondary like an accidental tourist was mind-boggling. That can’t happen. The coaches need to tighten it up. Good coverage on 9 of 10 plays isn’t good enough.

Newhouse, Bakhtiari will handle left, right tackle duties for now; Green Bay works out QB Young.
By CHRIS HAVEL
Bryan Bulaga and Josh Sitton spoke in such positives about the move from the right to left side of the offensive line during a TV interview for Saturday’s Family Night Scrimmage. Both were excited about the change and the progress they had made.
“It was a Monday morning when coach (Mike McCarthy) called us in to tell us,” Bulaga told Green Bay’s Fox 11. “We had an idea it was possible, and then he told us they made the switch.”
Since that day early in the offseason, Bulaga and Sitton had worked hard to become a dynamic tandem in the Packers’ pass and run games. Sunday that plan was put on hold with news of Bulaga’s knee injury. According to reports, the Packers believe he may have torn his ACL in the scrimmage. Bulaga played about 30 snaps.
Apparently the knee swelled up Sunday morning and the Packers went ahead with tests to determine the extent of the damage. As of noon Monday, no official word was given about Bulaga’s status by the team.
If it is a season-ending injury, it would qualify as a huge setback to an offensive line that is trying to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers and build a reliable running attack. That challenge just became much greater.
When McCarthy decided to flip-flop the line it was clear that Bulaga was the key. The expectation was that he and Sitton would anchor the left side in pass protection, and also on cut-back runs by the backs. Just when it seemed they were getting a semblance of timing the injury hit. For Bulaga, who has missed 11 games the past two seasons, it is an unfortunate injury. According to McCarthy, Bulaga was in the Packers’ facility constantly throughout the offseason while rehabbing his hip.
Bulaga, 24, was having a very strong training camp. He looked comfortable at left tackle, and was outstanding during the one-on-one pass blocking drills. Now, it appears Marshall Newhouse will move back to left tackle, where he has started 29 games the past two seasons. Another option is rookie tackle David Bakhtiari, a fourth-round pick from Colorado. Bakhtiari has been impressive during camp, and could see time at right or left tackle, depending on how McCarthy and his staff wish to proceed.
Don Barclay, who started at right tackle late last season, has been working almost exclusively at center and right guard. Derek Sherrod remains unavailable due to a leg injury, and Kevin Hughes and Andrew Datko have been underwhelming. The best guess here is that Newhouse will be at left tackle, Bakhtiari will be at right tackle, and GM Ted Thompson will be on the phone searching for veteran tackle help.
The injury comes at a time when the Packers’ offensive line was beginning to mesh. Perhaps the Packers will get lucky, and Bulaga’s injury won’t be season-ending. If not, others are going to have to step up and play better, otherwise new players will be brought in to compete. Bulaga’s injury is a reminder just how unfair the NFL can be at times. Nobody worked harder this offseason to return from an injury, and Bulaga gets bitten by a seemingly harmless play in a scrimmage.

PLUS—in other training camp news …

The Packers brought in quarterback Vince Young for a workout Monday. Young, who hasn’t played since 2011, was in Buffalo’s camp last year before being cut.
Young, 30, was Mike Vick’s backup in Philadelphia in 2011. In six seasons Young has completed 755 of 1,304 passes (57.9%) for 8,964 yards, 46 touchdowns and 51 interceptions.
Packers’ backup quarterback Graham Harrell has been solid in camp, while B.J. Coleman has had good and bad moments. On Saturday night he completed 9 of 18 passes for 100 yards and two interceptions. The turnovers were especially alarming because of poor judgment.
The Packers canceled Monday’s practice.

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Jones, Perry bring power, speed to lift Capers’ crew
By CHRIS HAVEL
It is time for the Green Bay Packers’ defense – in particular its front seven – to stand tall and deliver.
It is popular to talk about the way Packers GM Ted Thompson drafts and develops players, rather than playing in free agency. The fact is that the Packers’ much-maligned defense has top-end talent.
The Packers’ front seven has six first-round draft picks.Defensive linemen Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji and DaTone Jones are all first-round picks. So are linebackers Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk and Nick Perry. Only inside linebacker Brad Jones (seventh round) wasn’t selected in the first round.That’s a strong investment in that group. The return needs to come now.
There is no good reason that Green Bay’s defense shouldn’t rank among the NFL’s top ten. Part of the perception that Green Bay’s defense isn’t talent-laden might be because two of its best players (Jones and Perry) might be the two youngest. If they continue to show what they’ve show early in training camp, the Packers’ defense should be better than Ok.
Its strength, contrary to how the players were acquired, is in the secondary. Even with Tramon Williams and Casey Hayward sidelined by injuries early in training camp, others such as Sam Shields, Davon House and Morgan Burnett have played extremely well.
While the Packers’ 45-31 blowout loss at San Francisco in the NFC Divisional Playoffs certainly was a defensive team effort, the Green Bay front seven certainly was its greatest liability. The Packers have the personnel to be a Top Ten defense. Add Mike Daniels, Mike Neal and Johnny Jolly to the mix up front, and the Packers should have the depth, too.
So far, the Packers’ defense has appeared to play a faster, more aggressive brand of football. Obviously, it’s a great leap from here to the regular season and all NFL offenses can bring to bear. But Green Bay’s defense, in general, and its front seven, in particular, looks much-improved.
On Thursday morning, safety Morgan Burnett continued to fly around and make plays. It was a follow-up to a strong practice on Wednesday when he broke up several passes.
Additionally, cornerback Davon House made it two good days in a row. Early in Thursday’s practice he was seated on Gator being looked at by trainers. After enduring an ear infection, food poisoning and shoulder problems, the thought was, “What now?” It turned out House just had his ankles re-taped and he was back on the field. Once there, he made several nice plays including a strip of receiver Jordy Nelson.

Training camp news and notes:

Wide receiver James Jones continues to look like a Pro Bowl player. He catches everything thrown his way. He leads by example. He brings energy to practice and he even defends his teammates afterward.
Jones defended quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the wake of ex-Packers receiver Greg Jennings’ comments. Jennings, now with Minnesota, suggested Rodgers wasn’t a good leader.
“I was taken aback by his comments, and I’m extremely close to Greg … I’m the godfather of his middle daughter,” Jones told the NFL Network. “It was a brotherhood here … him and Aaron especially for seven years, me and him for six. When you leave you don’t talk about your brother like that. I’ll leave it as that.”
Asked about Rodgers’ leadership ability, Jones said, “Since I’ve been here Aaron’s been the leader of this football team and he’s been one of those guys who’s going to be a leader for a long time.”
Jones, 29, is entering his seventh season. He appears to be accepting more of a leadership role, too. In practice, he seems supremely confident and comfortable, whether he’s helping younger receivers during drills or joking with Jordy Nelson or Jermichael Finley.
Some fans wonder if Randall Cobb can replace Greg Jennings. Actually, it is Jones replacing Jennings, and it has been happening for two seasons. Jennings has 103 catches to Jones’ 102 since 2010. Jennings has 1,300 yards receiving to Jones’ 1,400 yards.
The greatest surprise is this: Jones has 21 touchdown catches to Jennings’ 13 TD grabs.

Other camp news and notes:

RB Johnathan Franklin continues to impress. He beat the defense – particularly Jeron McMillian – up the right sideline for a nice, over-the-shoulder catch. He also catches it easily out of the backfield.
However, he did fumble a punt and seems to battle them a bit.
DE Johnny Jolly showed toughness by walking off a lower leg injury early in practice, and coming back a couple snaps later to stuff a running play. He threw his would-be blocker in the back to blow up the play. In years past he might’ve sat out the rest of the drill.
DE Mike Daniels went ballistic when James Jones dropped a pass, nobody snatched up the ball, and Daniels (with his back to the play) nearly stepped on the ball and possibly did some serious damage to a leg.
TE Andrew Quarless looked smooth, and on one quick slant out of the Tiger or double-tight end formation, snared a bullet from Aaron Rodgers.
QB BJ Coleman gets high marks for arm strength, and his accuracy has been OK, but on Wednesday he audibled, switched up the play again, then promptly threw into coverage. AJ Hawk, who had dropped into coverage, grabbed it right between the 5 and O for a probably pick 6. Graham Harrell continues to be the backup to Aaron Rodgers.

First padded practice elicits rugged, in-your-face action
By CHRIS HAVEL
Just as no two NFL teams are identical, neither are the training camps they will be conducting in the next month. However, there are some aspects common to all.
The Packers were 45 minutes into the first padded practice of training camp when the position groups broke off for individual work. The defensive linemen jogged over to the sled, where defensive line coach Mike Trgovac let them know exactly what was expected on this cool, overcast Sunday morning at Ray Nitschke Field.
Trgovac’s tone was firm and measured.
“Let’s go now,” he said. “Get low and explode. We’ve got the pads on now.”
As rookie defensive end Datone Jones eased into his three-point stance in front of the sled, Trgovac added, “Show no (expletive) mercy!”
At the whistle, Jones slammed into the sled before swatting it aside like one might shrug off a mosquito.
“Nice,” Trgovac said.
Whether it was the sled or offensive teammates the defense responded. Perhaps tired of tip-toeing through two days of unpadded practices, or maybe sick of hearing the number “579,” Dom Capers’ crew opened with a serious, get-in-your-face style that was much welcomed.
Interestingly, it was the first-round pick (Jones) and the former defensive linemen off a prison stint (Johnny Jolly) who led the charge.
The coaching staff seemed pleased with the tone-setters.
When the pads came on Jones (6-4, 295 pounds) seemed to get bigger while Jolly (6-3, 325) appeared to get nastier. After the San Francisco 49ers’ offense gashed Green Bay for 579 yards in last season’s NFC Divisional Playoff loss, something needed to change.
Sunday’s first padded practice qualified.
“It was great to get that competitive environment established,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. “I thought they definitely practiced with an edge. We had too much extracurricular activities going on. That falls under your category of player safety. We have to practice better together, something that you don’t do overnight. This is a normal progression you go through every year in training camp.
“But I thought our guys came out on the high side of playing with an edge and that’s exactly what we want.”
Jones definitely made an impact.
“Definitely carries his pads,” McCarthy said. “Everybody’s different, everybody’s built different. You look at the way they carry their pads and the way they move in pads … I thought Datone looked very good, very comfortable. He’s in good shape.”
Will the Packers’ defense be in as good a shape when the season opens? It’s way too early to be certain, but the first padded practice proved to be a strong step in the right direction.
Add Jolly to the players who were impressed.
“(Jones) is looking good, man,” Jolly told reporters. “He’s so fast, man, it’s not even funny.”
Jones worked with the first unit and in the sub-packages.
Offensively, Aaron Rodgers and Co. did what they do best. They executed with a fair amount of precision, especially in the no-huddle. James Jones opened the day with a spectacular grab over right corner Sam Shields, who was in perfect position.
The day ended with Jarrett Boykin beating first-year cornerback James Nixon – who also was in position – by making a fine catch.
In between, there were several shouting/shoving matches with left guard Josh Sitton and Jolly often in the mix. For those who doubted Jolly would be successful in his return from a three-year absence that included jail time, Sunday’s practice suggested he has a great opportunity.
Elsewhere, rookie backs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin showed speed, shiftiness and power. They were raw at times, but the potential is apparent.
Rookie receiver Myles White had a rough day. After dropping a pass and fumbling while running the gauntlet, White messed up during the one-on-one tackling drill.
One of the defensive assistants barked, “I would not mess up the drill if I was the 18th guy in line!”
The Packers were serious on Day 3 – the first full pads practice – and they showed a sense of urgency.
Now we shall see if they can sustain it.
The answers to these and many other questions will come to light beginning with Friday’s first practice of training camp.

Injuries, conditioning, depth chart guaranteed to dominate headlines when Packers kick off 2013 season

By CHRIS HAVEL
Just as no two NFL teams are identical, neither are the training camps they will be conducting in the next month. However, there are some aspects common to all.
Injuries, conditioning and team depth charts are several key areas that media members will be chronicling as each day’s practice unfolds. When the Packers kick off the 2013 season with Friday’s first practice of training camp, railbirds should consider these 10 areas of importance:

#1: Injuries.

Who’s healthy? Who’s hurting? Why didn’t so-and-so practice today? These questions will dominate Packers head coach Mike McCarthy’s post-practice news conferences on a daily basis.The only thing McCarthy dislikes more than injuries is discussing them. But he also knows they are a distasteful but unavoidable reality of football. What McCarthy hopes to dodge (fingers crossed) are the devastating season-ending injuries.
In 1994, Wisconsin native and fourth-year defensive end Don Davey lined up across first-round draft pick Aaron Taylor in the one-on-one pass rush drill. At the whistle Davey tried to get the edge and Taylor responded by sliding to his left. The trouble was Taylor’s cleat stuck, he lost balance and the awkward move resulted in a traumatic knee injury.
In the blink of an eye Taylor’s season was finished. Hopefully, the Packers can avoid such catastrophes this camp.

#2: Conditioning.

The question works both ways. Who’s in terrific shape? Who’s fat, sloppy and just plain lethargic? The answers will be quickly apparent. Big men such as Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji will be scrutinized, but not as critically as skill position players. While a slightly overweight Johnny Jolly might rate a footnote, an out-of-shape running back, receiver or defensive back will be exposed in short order.

#3: Depth chart.

While the Packers’ depth chart may be unofficial for now, there is no escaping the reality of who’s lining up where and behind whom Friday. This weekend’s practices are sure to provide a glimpse into what McCarthy and his staff expect from certain players.
Is Marshall Newhouse working at right and left tackle? Will Casey Hayward get reps at corner in the base defense? Which receiver is first up as the No. 4 behind James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb? It will be interesting to see how McCarthy splits reps between running backs Eddie Lacy, Johnathan Franklin, Alex Green, DuJuan Harris and James Starks.

#4: Flashing.

This applies mostly to the rookies and undrafted free agents. For example, if first-round pick Datone Jones “flashes” by dominating in the one-on-one pass rush drill, it will be the day’s top headline. It’s the same for rookie tackle David Bakhtiari. If he’s routinely stoning Jones, Nick Perry and others in those drills it will be noteworthy. For lesser-known players such as Northern Iowa receiver Terrell Sinkfield, it will be crucial to show that his 4.2 40-yard dash time translates onto the field in pads.

#5: Same player/new look.

Whether defensive coordinator Dom Capers truly intends to use defensive lineman Mike Neal as a “hybrid” will be apparent early on. The question then becomes, “Is Neal an impact player in that role?” This also applies to physical changes. Some years ago Donald Driver spent an entire offseason reshaping his body. He added muscle without sacrificing explosiveness in order to increase durability. He went from a spindly 180-something pounds to a chiseled 203 pounds. Everyone knows how that worked out for him.

#6: Position group assessment.

A year ago, it was fairly obvious early in camp that the Packers’ defensive backs were bigger, stronger and more athletic. Jeron McMillian, Sean Richardson, House and Hayward joined Morgan Burnett, Sam Shields and Tramon Williams to form an impressive-looking position group.
Which unit will stand out as a group? My curiosity is with the offensive line and the linebackers (especially the inside linebackers). Do they collectively show the power and explosiveness to go cleat-to-cleat with teams like San Francisco and Seattle?

#7: Scheme/sub-packages.

Will Johnathan Franklin be given a chance to develop into a third-down back? It might depend on his ability to pick up blitzes. Does House win the job as the dime defender? Will Andrew Quarless step up as the No. 2 tight end in tiger (double-tight end) personnel? Camp can be an indicator of McCarthy and Capers prefer to proceed within their scheme.

#8: Sense of urgency.

McCarthy has praised his team’s work ethic and focus in the OTA’s. Now we will see how that translates when the weather gets hot, the scrutiny and competition increases and the pads come on. Will his team play fast without being in a hurry?

#9: Pace of practice.

McCarthy, like all NFL coaches, preaches tempo. Does his team get in and out of drills in timely fashion? Do his assistants have to repeat drills because players aren’t getting what they need out of it the first time? Harry Sydney, the three-time Super Bowl champion, often talks about the great veteran leadership on the 49ers’ great teams of the 1990s. Occasionally, Joe Montana or Ronnie Lott – if displeased with practice – would get on any player or unit not carrying their fair share. It will be interesting to see if an Aaron Rodgers or a Clay Matthews will be even more vocal in their leadership roles.

#10: Backup quarterbacks.

Rodgers is sure to draw the “oohs” and “aahs” from the railbirds with his pinpoint accuracy and astonishing arm strength. That’s a given. The reality is that quarterback play as a group dictates to a degree the quality of the practice. In Oakland, for example, the Raiders’ offense had difficulty during OTA’s because Matt Flynn and Co. weren’t accurate enough to run anything resembling smooth offense.
Graham Harrell (6-2, 215, 2nd year) is capable, but how will B.J. Coleman (6-3, 231, 1st year out of Tennessee-Chattanooga) and Matt Brown (6-3, 225, rookie from Illinois State) carry themselves in the passing drills and when running the show?
The answers to these and many other questions will come to light beginning with Friday’s first practice of training camp.