The Green Bay Packers first practice of this year’s training camp started on Wednesday, July 26th. Since then, the Packers have had a practice each day with a walk-through practice having been on Friday. Trying not to overreact about what it is happening on the field, especially since the Packers haven’t even put on the their pads yet, I’m going to discuss this weeks highs and lows for the Packers. This is the Green Bay Packers Week One Training Camp Highlights.
Training Camp Highlights
I like to think of myself as a pretty positive guy, so let’s look at the positives:
Jaire Alexander
Alexander has been, well, Jaire Alexander – which is synonymous with great. Because of this, he has shut down all opposing wide receivers so far. Anything Alexander does, he does to the best of his ability.
Despite a scary moment on Thursday when Alexander went down with what was a cramp, everything has been perfect for the Second-Team All-Pro Corner. Additionally, he even has been helpful in encouraging the offense that had to do up-downs when they lost to the defense in the competition period.
The Defense Overall
The defense has been playing great overall and have bested the Packers offense during the competition period in every practice thus far. Now, this is pretty typical for the start of training camp for most teams. Usually, defenses start more ready than the offense and the offense has to play catchup. This has been true in the past and it is true this year.
Kenny Clark has looked dominant in the middle of the defensive line and has caused problems for the young quarterback on the other side.
At edge, Preston Smith has been a fixture, with a rotation of people trying out the other edge position including Justin Hollins, JJ Enagbare, and rookie 1st rounder Lucas Van Ness. Van Ness, according to Andy Herman of the Pack-a-Day podcast, threw Josiah Deguara four yards into the backfield right into Love’s path.
The defense has been playing faster, tougher, and closer to provide more pressure and it really shows. They are throwing everything at the Packers offense and yet they are finding some success themselves.
Jordan Love
If it was just the first two days of camp, I would say that Jordan Love has been just pretty good so far, but then Saturday’s practice happened and it was phenomenal. With each and every practice, Love has seemingly improved. The best part of Love so far is that he has been decisive in his reads. The defense has been throwing everything but the kitchen sink at him and he knows the answers.
Now, just because Love knows where to go with the ball doesn’t mean the ball will be completed. That was the case for the first two practices. Love knew what to do but he wouldn’t always complete the passes. However, come Saturday, Love was on fire and was executing well. Saturday’s practice was by far his best, probably ever.
On his best pass of Saturday’s practice, Love hit Toure on the sideline for a 33-yard gain in the two minute drill. Toure went on to say later, “It was literally a perfect ball. It can’t be more perfect than that. If he throws it any more outside, it’s out of bounds. Any more inside, the safety makes a play on it. He put it in a perfect spot.”
Love has impressed so far.
Training Camp Lowlights
There are really only two lowlights. I’m not gonna include injuries in the lowlights.
QB-Center Exchange
Packers center Josh Myers did not play very well last season and could be removed as the starting center this season if he doesn’t perform. The season hasn’t started out the best for Josh Myers.
There have already been two fumbles that have occurred during training camp so far due to the ball being dropped during the quarterback-center exchange. It’s hard to tell who is at fault with this, and it could be as simple as the two of them just need more reps. But the Packers bringing in another center Saturday doesn’t seem too promising for Myers.
Training Camp on Saturday for Kicker Anders Carlson
It’s hard when a rookie kicker has to come in and replace a future Packers Hall of Famer, and that’s exactly what Carlson was drafted to do. There is a ton of pressure on a NFL kicker and Carlson has to be feeling it a bit.
On Saturday, Anders Carlson was one of six on field goal attempts. He was wide right from the 45, wide left from the 47, and wide left from 49 yards out. Not too good. He did end up making one of his three tries from beyond the fifty-yard line but having a day where a kicker has only made one field goal out of six is not good at all.
Let it be known that Mason Crosby is still available.
However, like I said in the introduction, this is just week one of training camp. The Packers haven’t even put on the pads yet. There is a long way to go. As for me, I’m excited for the journey.
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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